Charts new course for AI-driven healthcare in Kashmir
Srinagar, January 22: Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Thursday hosted a day-long Official Pre-Summit Event of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, positioning Jammu & Kashmir at the forefront of India’s rapidly evolving Artificial Intelligence–enabled healthcare ecosystem.
Held under the theme “Transforming Healthcare through Intelligent Technologies in the Kashmir Valley,” the high-profile event brought together leading policymakers, global experts, academicians and healthcare leaders for outcome-driven deliberations on leveraging AI to strengthen healthcare delivery, research, governance and public health systems.
The inaugural session featured keynote addresses by experts from Harvard University, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health / Centre for Global Digital Health Innovation (USA), AIIMS, IITs, and other leading international technology institutions. Speakers examined emerging opportunities, operational challenges, ethical dimensions and real-world implementation of AI in healthcare.
AI as a Catalyst for India’s Health Systems
Addressing the gathering virtually, Prof. V. K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, presented a comprehensive overview of AI integration within India’s health systems, underscoring its transformative role in service delivery, diagnostics, telemedicine, capacity building and flagship programmes such as Ayushman Bharat.
“Given the complexity and scale of India’s public health landscape, Artificial Intelligence can significantly enhance decision-making—from precision interventions to local-level action and forecasting,” Prof. Paul noted. He lauded SKIMS for its sustained contributions to healthcare and commended the leadership of Director SKIMS, Prof. Mohd Ashraf Ganie.
‘AI Cannot Replace Human Empathy’
The Chief Guest, Padma Shri Awardee Prof. Digambar Behera, President, National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), highlighted how AI is redefining disease diagnosis and treatment through precision medicine and improved clinical decision-making.
“AI can optimize workflows, strengthen chronic disease management and improve public health systems. However, it cannot replace human empathy—it can only augment and strengthen healthcare systems,” he emphasized.
SKIMS to Emerge as an AI-in-Healthcare Hub
Addressing the audience, Director SKIMS & EOSG, Prof. Mohd Ashraf Ganie, announced that SKIMS is poised to emerge as a regional hub for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, with the objective of reshaping health systems across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
He informed that on the eve of the Pre-Summit, SKIMS launched a new Department of Clinical Repository Information & Technology, aimed at strengthening data readiness, enhancing research capacity and enabling ethical AI-driven healthcare delivery.
“AI is already circumventing many traditional pathways in drug discovery, diagnostics and patient data utilization. It has revolutionized patient care in areas such as diabetes management, making interventions faster, more precise and clinically efficient,” Prof. Ganie said.
Reiterating the primacy of ethics and compassion in medicine, he added, “AI stems from the human brain. The human interface will remain central to ensure compassionate, ethical and humane patient care.”
Prof. Ganie further noted that the event holds special significance as SKIMS is among the select institutions nationally chosen to host Official Pre-Summit Events leading up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, to be inaugurated in New Delhi by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
Government and Academia Extend Support
The Guest of Honour, Dr. Piyush Singla (IAS), Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, praised SKIMS for hosting the landmark event. Drawing from global best practices, he stressed the importance of data readiness, measurable outcomes and robust implementation frameworks.
“SKIMS has immense clinical depth and institutional expertise. If leveraged effectively, Jammu & Kashmir can emerge as a national reference point in AI-driven healthcare,” he said, emphasizing the need for capacity building in systems and governance, beyond mere tool-based training.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Akshay Labroo, assured full administrative support and highlighted that district-level databases are already operational, paving the way for collaboration with SKIMS.
The event was also addressed by Prof. Nilofer Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, and Prof. Shaukat A. Gurcoo, Dean, Medical Faculty, who emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration in digital health and research.
Key Deliberation Themes
The Pre-Summit featured multiple plenary sessions and panel discussions on: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare; Research Priorities in Digital Health; AI-Driven Healthcare Transformation in India; AI for Cancer Research and Genetics and About the Pre-Summit Event
The Official Pre-Summit Event was organized by the Skill Development Unit (Centre of One Health), SKIMS, in collaboration with DataLEADS and the Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU), SKIMS, with support from the Department of Information Technology, Government of Jammu & Kashmir.
SKIMS is among a select group of institutions nationwide chosen to host Official Pre-Summit Events under the India AI Impact Summit 2026 framework, culminating in the national summit in New Delhi.
