Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Joins Consortium of Innovative Health Universities at India AI Impact Summit 2026
The India AI Impact Summit 2026, held in Bathinda, has ushered in a transformative era of innovation, emphasizing how Artificial Intelligence can achieve population-scale impact through robust collaboration across India's academic, public, and private sectors. From agriculture and healthcare to education and essential services, institutions and partners showcased the application of AI technologies to tackle critical challenges and propel societal change.
Memorandum of Understanding Signed for Consortium Membership
During this forward-looking dialogue, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) in Faridkot signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to become one of the five founding members of the Consortium of Innovative Health Universities (CIHU). The agreement was formalized on the sidelines of the summit, with leaders from academia, policy, and the digital health sector in attendance.
The MoU was executed between the Health Parliament, a global health policy think-tank, and the Academy of Digital Health Sciences (ADHS), which jointly serve as the Secretariat of CIHU, and BFUHS as the member university. Signatories included RK Srivastava and Prof Rajendra Pratap Gupta, both co-chairs of the Consortium of Healthcare Universities, along with Prof Rajeev Sood, vice-chancellor of BFUHS.
Objectives and Governance of the Consortium
The CIHU aims to drive comprehensive reforms in several key areas, including curriculum design, research orientation, institutional governance, global collaborations, exchange programs, and innovation ecosystems. Its primary objectives are to promote academic innovation and breakthrough research, establish innovation clusters with industry, strengthen international collaborations, enhance faculty leadership development, and position Indian health universities for globally competitive, Nobel-class scientific contributions.
Under the MoU, BFUHS will actively participate in CIHU-led initiatives, nominate representatives to working groups, collaborate in joint research and innovation programs, engage in global partnerships, and share institutional best practices. The Secretariat, hosted by Health Parliament and ADHS, will coordinate consortium activities, such as global outreach and international collaborations. Governance will be handled by a board comprising co-chairs, representatives from public and private institutions, zonal members across India, and Secretariat members.
Commitment to Digital Health and AI Integration
BFUHS stated that membership in CIHU reinforces its dedication to advancing digital health capacity building, academic excellence, research innovation, and ethical governance frameworks. This collaboration aligns with the national vision of leveraging AI and digital transformation to modernize healthcare education and service delivery systems.
In a statement, BFUHS Vice-Chancellor Prof Rajeev Sood highlighted that this partnership marks a significant milestone in positioning the university among globally integrated and innovation-driven health institutions. It reflects BFUHS's proactive approach toward embracing Artificial Intelligence, digital health transformation, and collaborative excellence for the future of healthcare education in India.
