AI cannot replace human touch in medicine: Director General of Health Services Atul Goel

At SRIHER's 36th convocation, Dr. Goel emphasized the importance of clinical field practice for doctors and AI's limitations in medicine. He also encouraged engineers to consider the complexity of the human system and doctors to use traditional medicines. Vice Chancellor R. Velraj urged collaboration between medical and engineering disciplines.

A patient is not a ‘client’ as modern medicine based on insurance identifies, said Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, at the 36th convocation of Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER) in Chennai on Thursday, October 26, 2023.

Delivering the convocation address, Dr. Goel said: “To truly become a doctor, it takes at least five to 10 years of rigorous clinical field practice after getting a degree. Until then, they have to work within their limitations.” 

Dr. Goel, referring to Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the common thread between doctors and engineers, said: “AI is currently being touted as the solution to every problem of mankind. However, it can never replace human touch in medicine.” 

SRIHER Chancellor V.R. Venkataachalam conferred degrees to 2044 Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Science, undergraduate and postgraduate students in medical, engineering, and management disciplines in the presence of Vice-Chancellor Uma Sekar and Pro Chancellor R.V. Sengutuvan and other senior faculty.

R. Velraj, Vice Chancellor, Anna University, encouraged engineering graduates to intuitively think of the complexity of the human system to design their innovations better. “As this medical university sends off its first cohort of engineers, I hope to see a new era of collaboration between these two disciples,” said Mr. Velraj. Further, he said doctors should also consider the wealth of traditional medicines available in India and use them in an integrated manner.