Technology and Artificial Intelligence are changing how medicine works. But they cannot take the place of a doctor's human experience. This was the clear message from Prof Vivek Lal, Director of PGIMER, while speaking at the Annual PGI Arthroplasty Conference 2026 in Chandigarh.
Prof Lal was inaugurating the three-day conference, which is being organised by the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, PGIMER, under the aegis of the Arthroplasty Society of Tricity. The conference runs from September 17 to 19, with the theme "Mastering the Precision and Newer Techniques in Joint Replacement".
PGI Director on AI in Healthcare: Technology Is a Tool, Not a Replacement
Addressing a hall full of medical professionals, senior specialists, young doctors and students, Prof Lal made his position clear. Compassion, integrity, ethics and a patient-centric approach will continue to define the medical profession — even in an era of rapidly advancing technology and AI.
He stressed that the patient must stay at the centre of healthcare. Doctors should adopt a comprehensive approach to care, he said, rather than relying only on machines and software.
The message matters because hospitals across the country are adopting AI tools for diagnosis, imaging and surgical planning. In joint replacement surgery — the focus of this conference — technology already plays a big role in precision and planning. Prof Lal's point is that these tools support doctors, but the final judgement, empathy and responsibility remain human.
Why This Message Matters for Joint Replacement and Patient Care
The conference theme itself points to where orthopaedics is heading — precision and newer techniques in joint replacement. New technology can make surgeries more accurate. But according to the PGI Director, the human side of medicine cannot be replaced by any machine.
- Technology and AI can assist doctors in treatment and planning
- Human experience, compassion and ethics remain central to medicine
- Patient-centric care should guide every medical decision
- Young doctors and students were urged to keep these values at the core of their practice
The conference brings together experienced specialists and young doctors on one platform. It is a setting where new techniques are discussed — and where the Director chose to remind everyone what should never change.
Our Take: A Timely Reminder in the Age of AI
In our view, Prof Lal has raised a point that often gets lost in the excitement around AI in healthcare. Technology is moving fast. Hospitals want better tools, faster diagnosis and more precise surgery. All of that is good.
But a patient sitting in a hospital bed does not just need an accurate machine reading. They need a doctor who listens, explains and takes responsibility. That is the difference between treatment and care.
To put it plainly, AI can process data. It cannot hold a patient's hand or make an ethical call in a difficult moment. The PGI Director's message is simple and correct — use technology, but never let it push the human doctor out of the room.
For young doctors and medical students, this is the lesson to carry forward. Machines will keep getting smarter. The values of compassion, integrity and ethics must stay exactly where they are — at the heart of medicine.