AI will empower, not replace doctors: BHU VC Prof. Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi

Prof Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi calls PGIMER a “true national asset”

Chandigarh, September 7

PGIMER Chandigarh marked its 63rd Institute Foundation Day with a focus on the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, with Banaras Hindu University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi saying the technology would augment doctors rather than replace them.

Addressing the celebrations at the NINE Auditorium, Prof. Chaturvedi described PGIMER as a “true national asset” and lauded its contribution to healthcare, education, research and innovation.

“Artificial Intelligence will fundamentally transform healthcare by augmenting the capabilities of doctors, enabling greater knowledge, efficiency and reach,” he said.

Speaking on “AI in Healthcare”, Prof. Chaturvedi said AI could help doctors process information from clinical records, pathology reports and scientific literature, thereby expanding the knowledge available to them.

“The most successful healthcare deployments today are not examples of AI replacing doctors. They are examples of AI helping doctors perform at their best,” he said.

He said AI had moved beyond being a technological novelty and was making inroads into healthcare, research and decision-making. He also cautioned that systems developed largely using Western datasets might not adequately represent Indian disease patterns, patient populations and clinical practices.

Prof. Chaturvedi stressed the need for India to develop healthcare AI solutions suited to its own requirements. He highlighted potential applications in remote healthcare, radiology, hospital management and evidence-based decision-making, while noting that complex physical tasks such as surgery remained a frontier for further development.

Earlier, PGIMER Director Prof. Vivek Lal highlighted the institute’s expansion, growing patient capacity and affordable healthcare initiatives.

He said the inauguration of the Advanced Mother & Child Centre and Advanced Neuroscience Centre on July 17 had added 800 beds, taking PGIMER’s capacity from 2,200 to 3,000 beds.

Prof. Lal also said the institute’s waiting list was declining despite increasing patient footfall, and highlighted the benefits of Ayushman Bharat and affordable generic medicines through Amrit Pharmacy outlets.

Thirty-five PGIMER employees were honoured for outstanding service during the celebrations.

Prof. Sanjeev Handa, Dean (Research), proposed the vote of thanks.