AI in medical education: 42,000 doctors register for NBE training, MoS Health backs AI adoption
New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel recently pointed out that artificial intelligence is meant to support and enhance doctors' capabilities rather than replace them, particularly in addressing workforce shortages and rising patient loads.
The initiative has already received a strong response, with over 42,000 registrations so far.
The programme has been developed by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), an autonomous body under the Union Health Ministry. The programme has been designed to provide approximately 50,000 doctors with a foundational understanding of AI and its practical applications in clinical practice, diagnostics, clinical decision-making, research and medical education.
It aims to enhance digital competencies among medical professionals and enable them to effectively integrate AI-based tools into healthcare delivery and academic practice.
"Artificial Intelligence is not intended to replace doctors, but to augment their capabilities, help bridge gaps arising from the shortage of medical professionals and address the growing burden of patients," Union Minister Anupriya Patel said on Wednesday, as quoted by PTI
Launching an online training programme on artificial intelligence (AI) in medical education, the Union minister of state for health expressed satisfaction at the response to the initiative and noted that more than 42,000 doctors have registered for the programme.
Patel described the initiative as timely and forward-looking, stating that in a country grappling with a burden of non-communicable diseases and the continuing challenge of tuberculosis, such programmes can support a shift from reactive to more proactive and preventive approaches to healthcare delivery.
The use of AI in healthcare is no longer an option but a necessity, she said and asserted that it is not intended to replace doctors, but to augment their capabilities, help bridge gaps arising from shortages of medical professionals, and address the growing patient burden.
The minister highlighted that the adoption of AI must be guided by the principles of accountability, accessibility, and ethical use, ensuring that technological advancements strengthen healthcare delivery while safeguarding patient interests.
Speaking at the Occasion, Dr Abhijat Sheth, the president of NBEMS, said the programme reflects NBEMS’ commitment to modernising medical education and strengthening capacity building among doctors, adds PTI report
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Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) announced the launch of an Online Programme on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Medical Education and invited applications from postgraduate doctors, faculty members, trainees, and alumni.
The programme is scheduled to begin from January 2026 onwards and will be conducted entirely in an online mode. According to the official notice issued by the NBEMS in this regard, the programme aims to equip medical professionals with the knowledge and judgment required to critically evaluate, responsibly use, and safely integrate AI tools in clinical practice, education, and health systems in the Indian context.
ELIGIBILITY AND CERTIFICATION
NBEMS ongoing trainees, alumni (Qualified 2020 session onwards), faculty of NBEMS accredited departments, and other professionals may register. Participants attending at least 75% of classes LIVE, with attendance marked at both the start and end of sessions, and successfully completing the online assessment module, shall be eligible for a digital Course Completion Certificate.
The programme is open to the following participants-
1 NBEMS Ongoing Trainees.
2 NBEMS Alumni (Those who qualified 2020 onwards).
3 Faculty of NBEMS-accredited departments.
4 Other registered medical professionals interested in AI applications in healthcare and medical education.
HOW TO JOIN THE ONLINE CLASSES
The class schedule will be hosted on the NBEMS website.
To join a class and mark your attendance, click on the link “Join the Class” displayed against the respective session.
Clicking the link will transfer you to the online class platform and automatically mark your attendance at the start of the class.
The “Join the Class” link will be enabled 30 minutes prior to the commencement of the class and will remain active only up to 30 minutes after the scheduled start time.
At the conclusion of each class, participants must complete a brief questionnaire and submit feedback to mark their end-of-class attendance.
The feedback link will be available only after the class has concluded and for a duration of one hour thereafter.
Important: Attendance will be considered valid only if it is marked both at the beginning and at the end of the class.
KEY FEATURES
1 LIVE online sessions focusing on clinical applicability, ethics, patient safety, and accountability, comprising of 20 modules to be administered over 6 months, starting January 2026 onwards.
2 No technical or programming background required.
3 No fee shall be charged by NBEMS for joining the course.
4 Faculty from eminent national and international institutions, including Mayo Clinic, Harvard University, University of Oxford, IISc Bengaluru, IIM Lucknow, and other reputed organisations.
