New Delhi: HealthAIcon 2026, a first-of-its-kind national platform focused on advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, concluded successfully on May 17, 2026, at Eros Hotel, New Delhi. Organised by Medical Dialogues in association with the National Medical Forum, the conference brought together policymakers, clinicians, researchers, innovators, and industry leaders from across the country.
The event emerged as a powerful platform for dialogue and collaboration, with a clear focus on translating AI innovation into real-world healthcare solutions. The conversations throughout the day revolved around improving access, affordability, and quality of care through responsible and ethical use of AI.
Strong Participation from National Leaders and Experts
The conference saw participation from leading voices in India’s healthcare ecosystem, including Dr Abhijat Sheth, Chairperson, National Medical Commission (NMC) & President, NBEMS; Dr Anil Kohli: Padma Bhushan Awardee & Former President of Dental Council of India; Dr Sanghamitra Pati, Additional Director General, ICMR; Sunita Verma: Group Coordinator (R&D) at Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), Dr. Sanjay Tewari: Chairperson, National Dental Commission, Dr Arvind Lal, Executive Chairman of Dr Lal PathLabs.
Speaking at the conference, Chairman of the summit, Dr Prem Aggarwal said, ‘The National AI Doctors Mission aims to build awareness, create structured learning pathways, and ensure the responsible and ethical clinical use of AI in healthcare.”
Dr Prem further said, “We are not preparing for the hype around artificial intelligence; we are preparing doctors, researchers, institutions, and policymakers to use AI responsibly. The goal is to create a structured national movement for safe and effective AI adoption in healthcare.”
“The future of healthcare will be shaped not only by doctors and hospitals, but also by how responsibly we integrate Artificial Intelligence into the system. AI has the power to improve diagnosis, speed up treatment, and bridge the gap between public and private healthcare, but its success depends on trust and ethical implementation. Every dataset, every algorithm, and every innovation must work towards one common mission making healthcare more compassionate, inclusive, and accessible for every individual, regardless of their background.”
In his keynote address, Chairperson, NMC and President, NBEMS, Dr Abhijat Sheth emphasised, AI in healthcare must evolve in a manner that is ethical, safe, equitable, and aligned with clinical realities. We are not just adopting AI, we are adopting it at scale across a diverse healthcare system, and that brings both opportunity and responsibility.”
Dr Seth further said, “As chairman of the NMC, my primary concern is medical education. Because ultimately, the future of healthcare will depend on how we prepare our doctors for tomorrow. If we continue to train doctors only within the traditional framework, we risk creating a gap between what is taught and what is practised. AI is already a part of the clinical environment now. Our education system must accept and deflect that reality. And certainly, that gives us more responsibility to work on regulatory issues related to AI.”
On the evolving role of the doctors, he said every doctor in India should be empowered and understand the use of AI responsibly. This is not about turning a doctor into a technologist. It is about ensuring that every doctor understands what AI can and can’t. It can interpret AI output critically, use AI safely in clinical practice, and maintain independent clinical judgement.
In his concluding remarks, Dr Seth said that AI is already becoming an integral part of healthcare, and the real challenge lies in preparing doctors and healthcare systems to use it responsibly and effectively. He stressed that with thoughtful leadership, collaboration between healthcare and technology experts, and the right preparation, India has the potential to lead the global transformation of AI-driven healthcare in an ethical, patient-centric, and impactful manner.
Highlighting the importance of AI for doctors, Dr Sanghamitra Pati, Additional Director General, ICMR said, “AI is not going to replace doctors, but doctors who use AI may replace those who do not. At the same time, technology can never replace the healing touch, empathy, and human connection that define medical care. AI must therefore be used intelligently, ethically, and responsibly in healthcare.”
Dr. Sanghamitra further said, “India should not only become the largest consumer of AI, but also one of the largest creators of AI in healthcare. AI has the potential to empower every healthcare professional, improve medical education and research, and ensure better, more cost-effective healthcare delivery across the country.”
On the launch of the National AI Doctors Mission (NAIDM), Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator (R&D) at Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) said that it is extremely important that the healthcare data used for AI development remains secure, protected, and within the country. Ethical and responsible AI depends on unbiased datasets, proper auditing, traceability, and transparency so that healthcare algorithms remain accurate, inclusive, and trustworthy for every section of society.
She said AI is an assistive technology, but the real expertise still lies with doctors and healthcare professionals. Technology and healthcare are no longer working in silos; together, they can deliver more precise, affordable, and efficient healthcare solutions to people across the country, including at the grassroots level.
A major highlight of HealthAIcon 2026 was the launch of the National AI Doctors Mission (NAIDM), an initiative aimed at promoting “AI for All Doctors” by building AI literacy and equipping healthcare professionals with future-ready skills.
The event also hosted the Phoenix Awards, recognising individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to advancing AI in healthcare. The awards celebrated innovation, leadership, and best practices across the ecosystem.
HealthAIcon 2026 concluded with a clear roadmap for advancing AI in healthcare through education, collaboration, policy development, and real-world implementation, with a shared focus on ensuring technology meaningfully improves patient care and medical practice.