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CHENNAI — Standing before a sea of more than 2,000 graduating medical students at the Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER) on April 18, 2026, National Medical Commission (NMC) Chairman Dr. Abhijat Chandrakant Sheth delivered a powerful mandate for the future of Indian healthcare. In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) and digital diagnostics are becoming ubiquitous, Dr. Sheth urged the next generation of physicians to anchor their practice in empathy and ethics. While acknowledging that technology is a potent tool for healing, he warned that it must never replace the “timeless essence” of the doctor-patient relationship, sparking a vital national conversation on how to balance high-tech innovation with high-touch care.
A Plea for the Bedside Manner
In his keynote address at the 41st convocation, Dr. Sheth positioned empathy not as an optional “soft skill,” but as a core clinical competency. He argued that as India scales its medical infrastructure, the quality of care will ultimately be judged by how patients are treated—with dignity, respect, and active listening—rather than just the speed of their scans.
“Technology can heal,” Dr. Sheth noted, “but empathy will always remain the timeless essence of good medical practice.”
This stance aligns with the NMC’s recent overhaul of the undergraduate curriculum, which now mandates the AETCOM (Attitude, Ethics, and Communication) framework. For the public, the message is a reassuring one: while hospitals may become smarter, the human element remains the primary safeguard against “diagnostic distance”—the emotional gap that often grows when doctors spend more time looking at screens than at the person sitting in front of them.
The Clinical Power of Compassion
The Chairman’s plea is backed by a robust body of evidence. Medical literature consistently shows that empathy is not just “nice to have”; it is “good medicine” with measurable physiological impacts.
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Improved Outcomes: Research published in PubMed suggests that patients of empathetic physicians show better adherence to treatment plans and improved outcomes in chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
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Patient Satisfaction: Systematic reviews indicate that when doctors practice “perspective-taking,” patients report higher levels of trust and are less likely to experience the frustration of feeling “rushed” or “reduced to a checklist.”
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Reduced Burnout: Interestingly, fostering empathy may also protect doctors. Studies in the Journal of Medicine and Life Science suggest that meaningful human connection can act as a buffer against the depersonalization often associated with physician burnout.
Augmentation, Not Replacement
India is currently experiencing a digital health revolution. The National Board of Medicine and Surgery (NBMS) has recently introduced AI training modules to help doctors navigate large language models (LLMs) and predictive analytics. However, experts warn of the “illusion of empathy” in AI.
A 2023 review in the Journal of Medical Internet Research highlighted that while AI can mimic the language of care, it lacks the moral accountability and lived experience necessary for ethical decision-making.
Dr. Suresh Bada Math, Professor of Psychiatry at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, emphasizes this distinction. “A machine can flag symptoms and suggest protocols,” Dr. Math explains. “But it cannot sit with someone in distress, validate their suffering, and walk alongside them through recovery. That relational presence is irreplaceable.”
The Economic and Social Responsibility
The call for ethics also carries a significant social weight. During a recent convocation at AIIMS Delhi, Union Health Minister JP Nadda pointed out that society spends approximately ₹1.5 crore to train a single MBBS student in India.
This investment creates a “social contract” where graduates are expected to provide not just technical expertise, but a commitment to equity and integrity. There is growing concern among ethicists that an over-reliance on AI could inadvertently bake in biases—socioeconomic, gender, or regional—if the algorithms are trained on non-representative data.
Bridging the Gap: What This Means for You
For the average healthcare consumer, the NMC’s focus on “empathy over technology” provides a roadmap for what to expect from modern care:
| Feature | The Role of Technology | The Role of the Doctor |
| Diagnosis | High-speed data analysis and pattern recognition. | Interpreting data within the context of the patient’s unique life. |
| Communication | Telemedicine and automated reminders. | Ensuring the patient feels heard and understands their care plan. |
| Ethics | Standardized protocols. | Navigating complex moral dilemmas and individual patient values. |
Limitations of the “Human-Only” Approach
While the NMC emphasizes human empathy, some innovators argue that in a country as vast as India, technology is the only way to achieve “empathy at scale.” In rural areas where the doctor-to-patient ratio remains a challenge, AI-driven chatbots can provide basic triage and mental health support that would otherwise be unavailable.
The counter-argument, however, remains centered on safety. Critics suggest that using AI as a permanent substitute for human doctors in underserved areas could create a “two-tier” health system where the wealthy receive human care and the poor receive algorithmic care.
A Balanced Roadmap Ahead
The consensus among India’s medical leadership is clear: the goal is “Augmented Intelligence,” where technology handles the data-heavy lifting, freeing up the physician to focus on the patient.
As these 2,000 new doctors enter the workforce, they carry a dual mandate. They must be as comfortable with a digital algorithm as they are with a physical stethoscope, but they must never forget that the most powerful tool in their arsenal is the ability to say, “I hear you, and I am here with you.”
Reference Section
- https://medicaldialogues.in/news/health/doctors/empathy-ethics-over-technology-nmc-chairman-to-graduating-doctors-168922
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.
