Naidu bats for naturopathy, AI-led preventive healthcare

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday called for promoting naturopathy along with yoga as part of a stronger focus on preventive healthcare and AI-enabled digital health systems in Andhra Pradesh.

Addressing a high-level healthcare advisory panel via video conference, the Chief Minister stated that the State aims to elevate public health outcomes to global standards. He emphasized that capacity building and leveraging advanced technologies are crucial to reaching this objective.

Mr. Naidu said delivering high-quality healthcare requires a coordinated effort from all stakeholders. He added that the government is following guidelines prescribed by the World Health Organization to meet international benchmarks in the health sector.

He said digital health records were being created under the Sanjeevani Project, with support from the Gates Foundation. As part of the initiative, public health data was being collected and integrated through a Digital Nerve Centre established in Kuppam and Chittoor districts.

The aim, he said, was to make health data available in real time and use it to improve the implementation of public health schemes. Healthcare priorities, he added, have been outlined in the Swarnandhra Pradesh Vision 2047.

The Chief Minister stated that health infrastructure was being significantly strengthened on a large scale, with a special emphasis on preventive technologies. He urged experts to suggest innovative healthcare projects, including the wider use of artificial intelligence.

During the meeting, insights were shared by UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot, WHO scientist Soumya Swaminathan, AIG Chairman D. Nageshwar Reddy, and Yik Ying Teo, Dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore.

Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar, Gates Foundation India Country Director Archana Vyas, and senior officials were also present.