India opens first Department of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

1. India inaugurated its first Department of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare on August 29 at Kasturba Medical College in Manipal.

2. The program integrates medical, engineering, and data science training to prepare physicians for artificial intelligence-based practice.

Kasturba Medical College in Manipal formally opened the Department of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare on August 29, confirmed in the institution’s announcement. According to The Times of India, the department is the first of its kind in India and will embed artificial intelligence into medical education. Leaders stated that graduates must be as comfortable using algorithms as they are interpreting electrocardiograms. The curriculum blends clinical training with engineering and data science to foster interdisciplinary skills. Projects include radiology models that prioritize urgent scans and public health tools that predict outbreaks at district hospitals. Administrators expect hundreds of students to enroll in the first few years, with the aim of scaling to thousands. For India, where physician shortages are common, artificial intelligence may help extend expertise beyond urban centers. Globally, the move signals that training is shifting from optional courses to permanent academic structures. Physicians abroad can anticipate a workforce of new graduates expecting artificial intelligence as part of daily care. That expectation often accelerates adoption, as institutions must provide safe and validated tools. Regulators will be challenged to ensure that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence education maintains high standards of accuracy and safety. For clinicians, this development shows that artificial intelligence literacy is no longer optional. It is becoming a core part of medical practice worldwide.

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