National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has launched a groundbreaking free online programme titled Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education. Open to postgraduate doctors, faculty, trainees, and alumni, the six-month course featuring approximately 20 live interactive modules is scheduled to commence in January 2026.
The programme, delivered entirely online with no fees, requires no prior technical or programming expertise. It is designed to empower medical professionals to critically evaluate, ethically deploy, and safely incorporate AI tools into clinical practice, teaching, and health systems—tailored specifically to the Indian context.
Sessions will be led by distinguished faculty from world-renowned institutions, including Mayo Clinic, Harvard University, University of Oxford, IISc Bengaluru, IIM Lucknow, and others.NBEMS President Abhijat Sheth emphasized the initiative’s core philosophy: “The purpose is simple: to help doctors understand, judge, and safely use AI—without turning them into programmers or replacing clinical thinking.”
He highlighted that AI should augment, not override, professional judgment, ensuring patient safety and ethical standards remain paramount.
Eligibility criteria are broad to maximize reach:
- Current NBEMS trainees
- NBEMS alumni (qualified from 2020 onwards)
- Faculty from NBEMS-accredited departments
- Other registered medical professionals interested in AI’s healthcare applications
Key course objectives include enabling learners to:
- Grasp core AI concepts relevant to healthcare
- Critically assess AI tools for validity, bias, and safety risks
- Exercise sound judgment on when (and when not) to use AI
- Navigate ethical, legal, privacy, and cybersecurity challenges in Indian settings
- Seamlessly integrate AI insights into patient-centered decision-making
- Collaborate in multidisciplinary AI teams as clinical experts
- Uphold professionalism, transparency, and accountability in AI-assisted care
The programme represents a phased national strategy: beginning with postgraduate trainees and faculty, it aims to eventually extend AI literacy to undergraduate (MBBS) education and foster secure, indigenous AI infrastructure for Indian healthcare. Notably, NBEMS plans to apply for a Guinness World Record for delivering online AI education to the largest number of doctors in a single session.
To earn a digital Course Completion Certificate, attendees must participate in at least 75% of live sessions—with attendance tracked at both the start and end of each class—complete an online assessment, and submit feedback. Recorded sessions will not count toward attendance or certification.
The class schedule and “Join the Class” links will be available on the NBEMS website (natboard.edu.in). Links activate 30 minutes before sessions and remain open for up to 30 minutes after the start time, with post-class feedback required within one hour.
Interested professionals are urged to register immediately via the official NBEMS website to join this transformative effort bridging technology and medicine in India.This initiative addresses a critical gap, as AI tools are already permeating diagnostics, radiology, pathology, and hospital systems—often without formalized training for clinicians.
By prioritizing doctor-led AI adoption, NBEMS is positioning India’s medical workforce for a future where technology enhances, rather than disrupts, patient care.
Signpost News is an Imphal-based media house that focuses on delivering news and views from Northeast India and beyond.
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