NEW DELHI: During the 51st convocation ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan emphasized that while artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly advancing in healthcare, it cannot substitute for the “moral weight of a doctor’s presence at the patient’s bedside.” Speaking at Bharat Mandapam, he remarked that AIIMS Delhi was not just aligning with global trends but was “actively setting the tempo for the future of medicine.” He encouraged the graduating students to uphold values of compassion, innovation, and public trust.
The institution conferred a total of 523 degrees encompassing undergraduate, postgraduate, super-specialty, doctoral, nursing, and allied health sciences programs during the event. Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda highlighted the significant growth in India’s medical education landscape over the last decade, noting the rise in medical colleges from approximately 390 to 825 and the increase in medical seats to 125,000. He announced plans to add an additional 75,000 undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats in the coming two to three years.
Nadda also pointed out that India now boasts 23 AIIMS institutions, including 16 established in recent years, underscoring AIIMS Delhi’s pivotal role in mentoring these newer institutions nationwide. As part of the ceremony, the graduating class recited the Charak Oath, which reaffirmed their commitment to ethical medical practice and patient care. Degrees awarded included DM, MCh, MD, MS, MDS, MBBS, PhD, nursing qualifications, and fellowships in emerging specialties such as bariatric surgery, hepatology, and blood and marrow transplantation.
AIIMS Director Dr. Nikhil Tandon discussed the institute’s leadership in AI-driven healthcare innovations, including tools for AI-assisted screening in diabetic retinopathy, oral cancer, and radiology applications. He also noted that AIIMS Delhi is ranked among the world’s top hospitals and has received recognition from the World Health Organization in various public health and research domains. In addition, the institute honored five former faculty members with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their contributions to medical science, research, and patient care.
