Kashmir Pen News Desk
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, marking a significant step towards integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into healthcare systems in Jammu and Kashmir.
Held under the theme “Transforming Healthcare through Intelligent Technologies in the Kashmir Valley,” the event brought together global experts, policymakers, academicians and healthcare leaders to deliberate on the role of AI in strengthening healthcare delivery, research, governance and public health.
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. Speakers discussed emerging opportunities, ethical considerations, operational challenges and real-world implementation of AI-driven healthcare solutions.
Addressing the gathering virtually, Prof. V. K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, highlighted AI’s transformative potential in India’s health systems, particularly in diagnostics, telemedicine, service delivery, capacity building and flagship programmes such as Ayushman Bharat. He commended SKIMS for its contributions to healthcare and praised the leadership of Director SKIMS, Prof. Mohd Ashraf Ganie.
The Chief Guest, Padma Shri awardee Prof. Digambar Behera, President, National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), said AI is redefining disease diagnosis and treatment through precision medicine and improved clinical decision-making. However, he stressed that AI cannot replace human empathy and should only augment healthcare systems.
Director SKIMS & EOSG, Prof. Mohd Ashraf Ganie, announced that SKIMS is set to emerge as a regional hub for AI in healthcare, aiming to reshape health systems across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. He informed that SKIMS has launched a new Department of Clinical Repository Information & Technology to enhance data readiness, research capacity and ethical AI-driven healthcare delivery.
“AI is already transforming drug discovery, diagnostics and patient data utilisation, making healthcare interventions faster, more precise and clinically efficient,” Prof. Ganie said, while emphasizing that the human interface will remain central to compassionate and ethical patient care.
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, which will be inaugurated in New Delhi by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.
The Guest of Honour, Dr. Piyush Singla (IAS), Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, underlined the importance of data readiness, measurable outcomes and strong implementation frameworks. He said Jammu & Kashmir has the potential to emerge as a national reference point in AI-driven healthcare if institutional strengths are leveraged effectively.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Shri Akshay Labroo, assured full administrative support and said district-level databases are already operational, enabling collaboration with institutions like SKIMS.
The event was also addressed by Prof. Nilofer Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, and Prof. Shaukat A. Gurcoo, Dean, Medical Faculty, who stressed the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in digital health and research.
Key deliberations during the Pre-Summit focused on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, Digital Health Research Priorities, AI-driven Healthcare Transformation in India, and AI for Cancer Research and Genetics.
The Pre-Summit was organised 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 | Kashmir Pen
