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AI to Prescribe Medicine: India's Healthcare Crossroads
1 Nov
Summary
- Utah pilots AI for acne prescriptions, requiring physician review.
- India sees high self-medication rates, differing from ideal practice.
- AI health advice use is growing, blurring lines in India.
Utah has initiated a supervised pilot allowing an AI system to assess acne photographs and issue prescriptions for topical medications. This pilot, currently limited to adults in Utah and excluding severe cases, requires physician review of every prescription before it reaches a pharmacy. The experiment aims to test gradual reduction of human review in prescribing.
In India, where self-medication is widespread with an estimated 64.4% prevalence according to a review of 66 studies, the debate over AI prescribing is framed differently. Many Indians already make treatment decisions without formal consultations, often relying on pharmacists or past prescriptions.
India's over-the-counter market is substantial, projected to reach nearly ₹98,000 crore by 2030. Pharmacists are a primary source for medication purchases, acting as an initial point of advice for many. Generative AI has seen significant use for health-related queries globally, with high adoption in India.
Formal approval of AI prescribing in India could legitimize informal health advice, potentially leading consumers and pharmacies to treat AI recommendations with greater authority. Regulators face the challenge of preventing one approved use case, like acne, from setting a precedent for others without specific evidence.
