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Dr Abhijat Sheth, Chairperson of India’s National Medical Commission (NMC) and President of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), emphasized that artificial intelligence should enhance rather than supplant human clinicians amid the launch of a landmark free AI training program for doctors. Speaking to ANI on January 1, 2026, in New Delhi, Sheth highlighted AI’s role in diagnostics and personalized care while cautioning against over-dependence that could erode ethical standards and clinical judgment. This stance accompanies NBEMS’s new online course, applications for which opened December 30, 2025, signaling India’s push toward tech-savvy yet human-centered healthcare.
Key Developments in AI Training
NBEMS launched the “Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education” course, a free, six-month online program featuring 20 live interactive modules starting January 2026. Open to postgraduate trainees, alumni from 2020 onward, NBEMS-accredited faculty, and other professionals, it requires no coding skills and awards a digital certificate upon completion. Faculty from global institutions like Mayo Clinic, Harvard, Oxford, IISc Bengaluru, and IIM Lucknow will cover AI applications in diagnostics, treatment planning, ethics, bias detection, patient safety, and data privacy.
Dr Sheth described the initiative as vital for an “evolving area,” equipping doctors to evaluate AI tools critically without compromising values: “AI is a huge complement to progress in medicine, but we have to realise it must not replace the real doctors. We must value our physical presence.” The program addresses gaps where doctors use AI in radiology, pathology, and risk scores without formal training.
Parallel Push for Clinical Research
Concurrently, NMC’s Board of Governors approved integrating clinical research into core MBBS, MD/MS, and PhD curricula, elevating it from optional to mandatory with assessments. This includes ICMR principles for evidence-based practice, backed by collaborations with ICMR, IISc, IITs, and a multi-stakeholder committee. Sheth noted it fosters a “culture of clinical research” essential for quality education and national health innovation, with ICMR planning PhD programs in the field.
In India’s context, where doctor shortages persist—70% rural population served by 80% urban doctors—this duo of AI literacy and research mandates aims to bridge urban-rural divides and boost personalized care.
Expert Commentary
Experts echo Sheth’s balanced view. Dr Pushkar Agrawal, a healthcare leader, states AI redefines care through partnerships: “Rather than replacing doctors, AI can free them to focus on higher-order thinking, empathy, and ethical judgment.” IIT-Bombay’s Prof Jadhav warns against aiming for replacement: “AI researchers should help healthcare professionals ease processes and decrease repetitive tasks.”
From global lenses, a NIH position paper by the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine envisions AI tailoring treatments and aiding remote diagnostics ethically. However, Dr Anita Gurumurthy of IT for Change urges guidelines for AI in policymaking and vaccines to prevent overreach.
Broader Context and AI Applications
AI already transforms Indian healthcare, projected to grow at 40% CAGR by 2025 per NASSCOM, aiding imaging for TB/cancer detection and chronic disease management. Tools like Qure.ai accelerate screenings, while chatbots personalize plans, potentially saving billions in costs. A Mumbai study found 86% MBBS students use AI chatbots academically, underscoring urgent training needs.
Yet, adoption lags due to faculty expertise gaps and uneven infrastructure, with NMC’s reforms aligning with Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) emphasizing research literacy.
Public Health Implications
For India’s 1.4 billion, these steps promise efficient care: AI could screen rural populations for outbreaks, optimize urban hospitals, and personalize diabetes/heart treatments amid rising NCDs. Patients gain from faster diagnostics—AI spots anomalies humans miss—and remote monitoring via wearables.
Professionals benefit too: reduced errors, admin burdens eased, allowing focus on empathy. Readers might see AI in apps for vitals tracking or telemedicine, but always alongside doctor oversight for holistic decisions.
Limitations and Counterpoints
Challenges persist. Ethical hurdles include data privacy breaches, algorithmic biases favoring urban datasets, and accountability—who blames AI errors? Over-reliance risks deskilling, as Hyderabad doctors warn against sole AI advice like ChatGPT.
Transparency lacks in “black box” models, potentially unfair to diverse groups, and rural India faces digital divides. Critics note AI excels in patterns but falters in nuanced empathy or rare cases, reinforcing Sheth’s complement-not-replace mantra. Mitigation demands robust guidelines, bias audits, and ethics training—precisely what NBEMS targets.
References
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Sheth, A. (2026, January 1). AI must complement, not replace doctors: NMC Chairperson. Medical Dialogues. https://medicaldialogues.in/health-news/nmc/ai-must-complement-not-replace-doctors-nmc-chairperson-161842
*Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.
