Technology can enhance diagnosis but human touch must remain Central: Nadda

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, JP Nadda, on Saturday emphasised the importance of leveraging technology to improve medical diagnosis, while asserting that the human touch must remain at the heart of patient care.

He made these remarks while addressing the 50th Annual Convocation Ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.

Advertisement

Urging young doctors to serve with empathy, uphold the highest ethical standards, and harness innovation to meet the nation’s evolving healthcare needs, Nadda said,

“AIIMS has taken the lead in artificial intelligence (AI), genomics, precision medicine, and telehealth—fields that are transforming the healthcare landscape. While technology can help in detection and enhance patient satisfaction, the human touch and compassion must never be lost.”

He commended AIIMS for making significant strides in AI-driven diagnostics and robotic surgery training.

Congratulating the graduating students, the Health Minister lauded AIIMS for its unmatched contribution to advancing medical science, education, and patient care in India.

“In the field of medical sciences, training, and healthcare delivery, AIIMS has established itself not only in India but globally,” he said.

Reflecting on India’s progress in healthcare and medical education over the past decade, Nadda noted that while the country had only one AIIMS at the turn of the last century, today there are 23 AIIMS institutions across India, which will soon become fully operational.

He further informed that in the past 11 years, the number of medical colleges in the country has nearly doubled—from 387 to 819. Similarly, undergraduate medical seats have increased from 51,000 to 1,29,000, and postgraduate seats from 31,000 to 78,000.

Nadda added that over the next five years, an additional 75,000 seats are expected to be added across both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.