Robotics is expected to expand beyond surgery into diagnostics, treatment and therapy across multiple medical specialities, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh said at the International Conference of the Society of Robotic Surgery in New Delhi.
According to Dr. Singh, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and nanoscience could together support precision and personalised healthcare. He said future applications could include robotic medicine, robotic endocrinology and robotic cardiology.
AI and Robotics to Support Precision Medicine
As per the Economic Times, Dr. Singh highlighted that precision medicine will increasingly consider individual factors such as genetic profile, environment, lifestyle and diet while planning treatment.
Referring to the Genome India Programme, he said 10,000 individuals had been sequenced and noted that AI and robotics could support large-scale genomic sequencing in the future.
Tele-Robotics to Improve Specialist Access
Furthermore, Dr. Singh highlighted the potential of tele-robotics to connect specialists with patients across geographical boundaries. He cited robotic ultrasonography performed remotely on a person in Antarctica as an example of the technology’s potential.
He said tele-robotics could reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for specialised care. According to Dr. Singh, the combination of AI, robotics and other emerging technologies could help India move towards more precise and personalised healthcare.