Union minister Jitendra Singh proposes upskilling of medical professionals in AI, quantum tech

NEW DELHI: Union minister Jitendra Singh has proposed upskilling medical professionals with artificial intelligence (AI), quantum and other new-age technologies to meet the changing environment of healthcare systems. The new skills will allow the medical fraternity to utilise the latest diagnostic and therapeutic modalities available.

Singh made the proposal while addressing the 63rd Annual Convocation of National Academy of Medical Sciences (India), NAMS, at the Ramaiah Medical College in Bengaluru.

Emphasising on continuous upskilling, especially among the young medicos, Singh, who is a diabetologist and professor of medicine, said the country has taken the lead in preventive and integrated healthcare and medical bodies such as NAMS and the government should work together to provide best healthcare practices to patients.

“Wherever we are not able to provide optimum patient care, we could at least focus on the prevention of diseases through new technological means. I think that the one area wherein NAMS can pick up is preventive healthcare. If this can be achieved then it would not only serve the cause of healthcare or medical care but also preserve the energies of the huge youth resource pool which is going to be the architect of India@2047,” he said.

Healthcare infra transformed in 9 years

He added in the last nine years, India has turned into a cost-effective medical destination. This has been achieved due to several path-breaking healthcare reforms, he added.

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“Previously the country was hardly known for any preventive healthcare but today it is recognised as the vaccination hub of the world having produced DNA covid vaccine, world’s first intra-nasal covid vaccine, and the first indigenously developed vaccine, ‘Cervavac’ for the prevention of cervical cancer and many other vaccines for different diseases,” he said.

Jitendra Singh said, healthcare has been the top priority of the union government. “From 145 medical colleges in 2014, the number has increased to 260, besides 19 AIIMS have started academic sessions. Number of MBBS UG seats have increased from 51,348 in 2014 to 91,927 seats which is an increase of 79%. The number of PG seats have also increased by 93% from 31,185 seats in 2014 to 60,202 seats,” he said.