AI is not a substitute for doctors, should become their ally – Minister Anupriya Patel

Updated: 17-02-2026, 10.13 AM

What is the news?

The issue of threat of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to doctors’ jobs was discussed at the AI Impact Summit 2026. Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel clearly said that the purpose of AI is not to replace doctors, but to help them. He said that medicine is not just a science but also a work of sensitivity and understanding. Machines cannot replace human empathy and communication, so AI should be seen as a support tool.

Growing need of AI in healthcare

Roy Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Royal Philips, said that AI has now become a necessity due to the increasing burden on the health system, shortage of staff and complexity of treatment. He said that it is important to link AI with clinical needs. AI will not succeed without the right data, robust systems, and clean usage. To maintain trust, it is also important to keep AI systems transparent and secure.

Examples of AI in India

It was told in the summit that AI-enabled media disease surveillance system is being used in India to monitor and quickly identify the disease. This system, which works in 13 languages, keeps an eye on the trends of diseases. AI based X-ray machines have detected about 16 percent more cases in TB testing. AI tools that improve treatment outcomes have reduced bad outcomes by 27 percent.

Emphasis on implementation at system level

NITI Aayog member VK Paul said at the AI Impact Summit 2026 that AI can open the way to better healthcare for all, but it should not be limited to small projects only. Strong rules, data security and public-private cooperation are necessary. All the speakers agreed that AI can help in monitoring, investigation and decision making, but the final decision should be taken by the human being. For this reason, AI will not be a substitute for doctors but will be an assistant.