In a significant move to modernise medical training, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has announced a comprehensive, no-cost online programme focused on Artificial Intelligence. This initiative, a key part of the government's Viksit Arogya Bharat vision, is designed to demystify AI for the medical community and prepare them for a tech-integrated future in healthcare.
Course Overview and Key Objectives
The programme, officially titled 'Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education,' is scheduled to commence in January 2026. It represents a strategic effort by NBEMS, the premier body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that conducts major exams like NEET PG and FMGE, to bridge the knowledge gap in emerging technologies. The core mission is to equip doctors and medical educators with a foundational understanding of AI's role without the need for any prior technical or coding expertise.
The curriculum is built on the principle of augmentation, not replacement. It aims to show medical professionals how AI tools can enhance teaching, learning, and clinical decision-making, while strongly emphasising responsible, safe, and ethical use. The course will unpack complex AI concepts in simple, practical terms relevant to everyday medical practice.
Eligibility, Structure, and Certification
The course is open to a wide range of medical professionals, including postgraduate medical students, NBEMS trainees and alumni, and faculty from NBEMS-accredited institutions. A major highlight is that the entire programme is completely free, with no registration or course fees involved.
Spanning approximately six months, the course will feature around 20 live online modules. The schedule is designed to be flexible, with sessions spread out to allow participants to balance their learning with professional duties. Instruction will be delivered by a distinguished panel of experts from both India and abroad through interactive, live-streamed classes accessible from anywhere.
Participants who attend a minimum of 75% of the live sessions and successfully complete the online assessment will be awarded a digital certificate from NBEMS, validating their completion of the course.
What Will Medical Professionals Learn?
The course content is meticulously crafted to cover all essential aspects of AI in a medical context. Key learning modules include:
- The fundamental ideas and principles behind Artificial Intelligence.
- Practical applications of AI in medical education and clinical workflows.
- Skills to critically evaluate and interpret AI-based medical research.
- A balanced view of the benefits, limitations, and potential risks of AI tools.
- Critical ethical, legal, and data privacy considerations, with a focus on patient safety.
- Guidelines for the responsible integration of AI in healthcare settings.
This initiative arrives at a crucial time when AI is rapidly becoming embedded in healthcare diagnostics, treatment planning, and administration. Many doctors express a desire to understand this technology but lack a trusted, structured starting point. The NBEMS course fills this void by providing a government-backed, authoritative, and accessible learning pathway.
Interested candidates can register through the official NBEMS portal by visiting https://natboard.edu.in/Sangam/index.php, navigating to the participant login section, selecting their category, and completing the OTP-based registration process. This course stands as a valuable, cost-free opportunity for India's medical fraternity to confidently step into the future of medicine.
