BMC Launches Vaidya AI WhatsApp Chatbot for Healthcare Services in Mumbai
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) launched an artificial intelligence-powered WhatsApp chatbot named Vaidya AI on Friday, aiming to make healthcare information and medical services more accessible to citizens across Mumbai.
The chatbot has been developed jointly by the BMC and Fractal Analytics Ltd. Residents can access the service by messaging the contact number 9892993368. The platform is designed to provide information on healthcare facilities located near a user's location, outlining the specific services and treatment options available at various civic health institutions based on individual requirements.
In addition to locating nearby clinics and hospitals, the platform offers information on various healthcare schemes run by both the Central and Maharashtra governments. This functionality is intended to help citizens identify eligible welfare programmes and access relevant medical services. The chatbot also includes a feedback feature, allowing users to submit responses and suggestions to help the civic administration refine and improve the information and services provided.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Prajakta Verma-Lavangare stated that the platform would help strengthen the city's healthcare infrastructure by connecting citizens' treatment-related information directly with the civic health system. She noted that the tool is expected to assist residents in making better use of healthcare facilities and government schemes available in their local neighbourhoods.
The AI platform is built to facilitate communication with the public, offer preliminary assistance during the early stages of treatment, and support multilingual interactions. Furthermore, the system is intended to assist hospital administrations in enhancing their day-to-day operational efficiency.
The Vaidya AI service will initially run on a three-month pilot basis across the BMC healthcare network. The rollout follows a memorandum of understanding signed between the BMC and Fractal Analytics as part of broader efforts by the civic body to integrate modern technology and artificial intelligence into public healthcare delivery in Mumbai.
