IIT Kanpur and NHA ink MoU for digital public goods' development for AI in healthcare

The National Health Authority (NHA) and IIT Kanpur have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a platform for validating artificial intelligence (AI) models in healthcare. Under this collaboration, IIT Kanpur will develop a federated learning system for machine learning pipelines, a quality-preserving database, an open benchmarking platform for AI model validation, and a consent management system under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Once developed, the platform will be managed by NHA to enhance health outcomes through AI.

Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra praised the MoU, highlighting its goal of using ABDM data to create a public benchmark for AI models in diagnosing diseases. This initiative aims to address challenges related to AI model efficacy and the availability of disease diagnosis data, leading to better clinical outcomes.

The platform will enable trustworthy AI models by allowing out-of-set validation, establishing transparent performance benchmarks, and improving data access for researchers. It will also ensure data security while fostering innovation in healthcare.