Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Vice-Chancellor Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi on 7 September declared that artificial intelligence will fundamentally reshape Indian healthcare — not by replacing doctors, but by dramatically expanding what they can know and do. Speaking as chief guest at the 63rd Foundation Day of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, Chaturvedi delivered the keynote address on the theme 'AI in Healthcare'.

AI as Enabler, Not Replacement

Chaturvedi was unequivocal that the most effective applications of AI in medicine are those that amplify physician capability rather than supplant it. '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 underlined that AI has moved well past the stage of being a novelty or status symbol. 'AI is no more something like a fashionable toy or something that is a status symbol. It has made very deep inroads in the market, and naturally, we cannot be just watching it from a distance,' he told the gathering.

Expanding Knowledge and Research Frontiers

The BHU Vice-Chancellor highlighted AI's capacity to process vast volumes of clinical records, pathology reports, and scientific literature, enabling physicians to draw on a far wider knowledge base than was previously possible. 'The assistant does not replace expertise, but it dramatically expands the amount of knowledge a physician can effectively utilise,' he noted.

On the research front, Chaturvedi observed that AI is unlocking investigations that were once prohibitively expensive or time-consuming. 'The real transformation is that researchers can now ask questions that were previously too expensive or time-consuming to investigate,' he said. He also pointed to AI's growing role in radiology, hospital management, remote healthcare delivery, and evidence-based clinical decision-making, while acknowledging that complex physical tasks such as surgery remain an area requiring further development.

A Warning on Western Datasets

Chaturvedi struck a cautionary note on the uncritical adoption of AI tools built primarily on Western medical data. 'AI systems trained predominantly on Western datasets may not adequately reflect Indian disease patterns, patient populations and clinical practices,' he said. He stressed that India must transition from being a consumer of healthcare AI to becoming a creator of solutions grounded in Indian realities — a call that carries particular weight given the country's distinct epidemiological profile and resource constraints.

He also outlined how medical education itself will need to evolve, with greater emphasis on clinical judgement, critical thinking, evidence evaluation, and patient communication, rather than rote memorisation. Looking ahead, he described a generational arc for AI: 'The first generation of AI helped humans find information. The next generation is helping humans make decisions. The generation after that will help humans take action.'

PGIMER's Growth and PM Modi's Boost

Earlier at the event, PGIMER Director Vivek Lal highlighted the institute's significant expansion in recent months. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two major facilities on 17 July — the Advanced Mother and Child Centre and the Advanced Neuroscience Centre — adding 800 beds to the institute's capacity. 'From 2,200 beds, we have 3,000 beds now for taking care of our patients,' Lal said.

Lal also spoke of PGIMER's commitment to affordable healthcare, citing the reach of Ayushman Bharat and the availability of low-cost generic medicines through Amrit Pharmacy outlets. He noted that patient savings through these initiatives run into crores, particularly for those undergoing treatment for serious or prolonged illnesses. Chaturvedi, for his part, described PGIMER as 'a true national asset — not limited to one region, but making a significant contribution to healthcare, education, research and innovation across the country.'