Srinagar, Jan 22: Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) on Wednesday hosted a day-long Official Pre-Summit Event of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, positioning Jammu and Kashmir as an emerging hub for artificial intelligence–enabled healthcare.
Held under the theme “Transforming Healthcare through Intelligent Technologies in the Kashmir Valley,” the event brought together policymakers, global AI experts, academicians and healthcare leaders to discuss how artificial intelligence can 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 institutions. Discussions focused on opportunities, ethical concerns, implementation challenges and real-world applications of AI in healthcare.
Addressing the gathering virtually, Prof. V. K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, highlighted AI’s expanding role in diagnostics, telemedicine, service delivery and capacity building, including flagship programmes such as Ayushman Bharat. He said AI could significantly improve decision-making in India’s complex public health system through precision interventions and predictive analytics.
The Chief Guest, Padma Shri awardee Prof. Digambar Behera, President of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), stressed that while AI is transforming diagnosis and treatment through precision medicine, it can only augment and not replace the human element in healthcare. He underlined that empathy and clinical judgment remain irreplaceable.
Director SKIMS and EOSG, Prof. Mohd Ashraf Ganie, announced that SKIMS is set to emerge as a regional AI-in-healthcare hub for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. He revealed the launch of a new Department of Clinical Repository Information & Technology at SKIMS to strengthen data readiness, research capacity and ethical deployment of AI solutions.
“AI has already revolutionised areas such as drug discovery, diagnostics and chronic disease management, including diabetes care, making healthcare more efficient and precise,” Prof. Ganie said, adding that ethical oversight and compassion will remain central to medical practice.
He also noted that SKIMS is among a select group of institutions nationwide chosen to host Official Pre-Summit Events ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
Guest of Honour Dr. Piyush Singla (IAS), Secretary, Department of Information Technology, J&K, lauded SKIMS for organising the event and emphasised the need for strong governance frameworks, data preparedness and outcome-based implementation. Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo assured full administrative support and highlighted the availability of district-level databases for collaborative research.
Vice Chancellor University of Kashmir Prof. Nilofer Khan and Dean, Medical Faculty, Prof. Shaukat A. Gurcoo, also addressed the event, stressing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing digital health research.
The Pre-Summit featured plenary sessions and panel discussions on AI-driven healthcare transformation, digital health research priorities, and applications of AI in cancer research and genetics.
The event was organised by the Skill Development Unit (Centre of One Health), SKIMS, in collaboration with DataLEADS and the Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU), with support from the Department of Information Technology, Government of Jammu & Kashmir.
