Overview

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has initiated a new training program in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare, which has already seen a registration of more than 42,000 doctors from different parts of India. This AI course for medical professionals not only aims at familiarizing them with AI but also training them to use it safely and ethically in hands-on practice and academic settings.

Purpose of the AI Program

The six-month program intends to equip physicians with the basic understanding of AI's involvement in healthcare. Dr. Abhijat Sheth, President of NBEMS, mentioned that the goal is to introduce doctors to AI as a support tool — not as a substitute for clinical decision making. Areas of discussion will cover AI's application in diagnosis, treatment assistance, organizational tasks, and overall healthcare systems.

Physicians are invited to apply AI in the proper way, but at the same time, they should also be aware of and respect the ethical and professional limits, so that the human aspect of care and empathy will always be at the center of their interaction with patients.

Wide Participation and Structure

The program is a success as it has brought doctors together from different regions of India and a few international Indian doctors are also willing to join. It is voluntary and accessible to medical professionals of various specialties.

The syllabus consists of 20 lectures stretched over six months, and the lectures are offered online. The first lecture was presented by the famous gastroenterologist Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy. The faculty comprises specialists from worldwide institutions such as Harvard University, the Mayo Clinic, University of London, Arizona State University, and top Indian institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

Focus on Ethics and Safe Practice

One of the most important aspects of training is the ethical use of AI tools. Dr. Sheth pointed out that AI could potentially increase both efficiency and precision but at the same time, it should never replace a doctor’s judgment. He added that it was vital for medical practitioners to assess AI recommendations critically and not to depend excessively on automated methods.

Feedback and Future Plans

The certification will be given to doctors who finish the course after they have taken the assessments and been active participants. The feedback received will be a tool for NBEMS to review the program and even think about making specific AI modules for various specialties in the future.

The professionals have come to a conclusion that the program meets the demand for AI literacy in healthcare which is getting higher. Dr. Suvrankar Datta, an AI researcher and radiologist, states that a large number of junior doctors are indeed using AI products but not knowing their drawbacks, thus proper training will be necessary for safe and effective usage.

Summary

The NBEMS AI course marked a significant milestone in the incorporation of technology into the contemporary healthcare scenario in India. It is open to a wide array of attendees, features internationally recognized teaching staff, and promotes the ethical application of AI through its training that empowers physicians to make use of AI technologies without compromising the basic human qualities in the field of medicine.