Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving from pilot projects to practical deployment in India’s pharma and healthcare sector. What was once seen as a future tool is now delivering measurable impact, particularly in drug discovery and operational efficiency.

Global momentum has accelerated this shift, and the trend is now visible in India. Industry experts expect 2026 to mark a clear transition from experimentation to scaled adoption of AI across pharma companies.

According to BCG, the Indian pharma sector has moved beyond awareness into early adoption, with around 20% of companies already using AI, mainly in documentation, quality analytics, and repetitive workflows. At the same time, experimentation is expanding across other parts of the value chain.

The biggest near-term impact is being seen in small-molecule drug discovery, where AI is helping optimise molecules and shorten development timelines. Generative AI is also gaining traction in regulatory and technical documentation, easing complex, knowledge-intensive processes.

BCG estimates that AI can cut drug discovery and development timelines by 25–50%. While innovation is building momentum, scaling these solutions—especially for public health applications—remains the key challenge for India.

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