Home / Health / AI Tool Identifies 95,000+ Health Events, Boosts India's Disease Surveillance
AI Tool Identifies 95,000+ Health Events, Boosts India's Disease Surveillance
16 Nov
Summary
- AI tool 'Health Sentinel' processed 300M+ news articles, identified 95,000+ health events
- Automated system replaced manual media scanning, reduced workload by 98%
- Over 5,000 real-time alerts sent to authorities since April 2022
As of November 16, 2025, an artificial intelligence tool deployed by India's National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in 2022 has significantly transformed the country's disease surveillance capabilities. The 'Health Sentinel' system, developed by WadhwaniAI, has processed over 300 million news articles and identified more than 95,000 unique health events across India since its installation.
This automated approach has replaced the traditional manual scanning of media reports, reducing the workload by an impressive 98%. The system's ability to rapidly process information in 13 languages has enabled a quicker detection of potential outbreaks, with over 3,500 events (4% of the total) being shortlisted by NCDC experts as potential outbreaks. Furthermore, between April 2022 and the present day, the tool has sent more than 5,000 real-time alerts to health authorities across the country, allowing for a more proactive public health response.
The research team behind the 'Health Sentinel' tool has observed a 150% increase in published health events since 2022, compared to previous years of human-based disease surveillance. This significant improvement highlights the transformative impact of AI-powered tools in enhancing India's disease monitoring capabilities and strengthening its preparedness for future health emergencies.
