AI Resources for Medical Students: Government Initiative Begins in 57 Colleges

The government is taking steps to provide medical students with access to e-books and artificial intelligence (AI) resources to help enhance their skills and learning. In the first phase of the initiative, around 57 government medical colleges in smaller towns and rural areas will benefit, according to a senior Health Ministry official.

Speaking at the AI Impact Summit, Deputy Director General (Medical Education) B. Srinivas highlighted that students in remote colleges often face difficulties in accessing e-books and quality technical materials, including AI-related content. “The government is using AI to reach out to these students. Through the National Medical Library, we have started securing e-books and digital clinical materials, which are now being provided to about 57 government medical colleges,” he said.

Srinivas added that the programme will be gradually scaled up, with the potential to include private medical colleges in the future. “Since the budget comes from the government, we are currently concentrating only on government institutions,” he said. He emphasised that while building infrastructure is relatively easy, developing comprehensive knowledge materials takes time.

Panellists at the summit also discussed the role of responsible AI in promoting health equity by improving access to trusted medical knowledge, clinical decision support, and workforce capacity. Speakers stressed the importance of collaboration among policymakers, healthcare leaders, clinicians, and industry experts, focusing on trust, transparency, and governance in health AI. The session also explored how evidence-based and explainable AI systems can be deployed safely to strengthen health systems, particularly in resource-constrained areas.

Source: The Tribune