**Executive Summary**
On April 15, 2026, President Droupadi Murmu addressed the convocation ceremony of AIIMS Nagpur, emphasizing that medical practice is a path for serving humanity with sensitivity. The President highlighted the importance of balancing rapid technological advancements, such as AI and digital health, with core ethical values and compassion. She urged the graduating class to prioritize patient-centric care and lifelong learning to contribute to the goal of a "Viksit Bharat" by the centenary of India's independence.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**The Role of Humanity in Medicine**
* Medicine is defined as a service to humanity rather than just a profession, requiring doctors to instill hope and provide empathetic counsel.
* Sensitivity toward patients and their families is essential, even in challenging clinical situations.
* Maintaining a bond of trust through mutual respect between doctors and patients is critical for effective healthcare.
**Advancements in Technology and Healthcare**
* The healthcare sector is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by Artificial Intelligence, digital health services, and advanced research.
* While technology is a powerful tool, it cannot replace the fundamental pillars of compassion, integrity, and a patient-centric approach.
* Technological developments must be leveraged specifically to bridge the healthcare disparity between rural and urban areas.
**Institutional and National Progress**
* The Government of India has expanded the AIIMS network over the last decade to improve healthcare access and medical education opportunities.
* AIIMS Nagpur has established itself as a premier center for research, education, and healthcare services within a few years of its founding.
* The health of citizens is directly linked to the nation’s progress and the ability of individuals to contribute to nation-building.
**Professional and Ethical Standards for Doctors**
* Doctors hold a high social status and carry a moral obligation to place the interests of patients above all else.
* Graduating professionals are encouraged to maintain a spirit of curiosity, innovation, and a commitment to continuous learning.
* Upholding ethical values is paramount to maintaining the reputation of the individual practitioner and the medical profession.
**Impact Analysis**
**Graduating Doctors and Medical Students**
**Impact**
They are entering a high-status profession with significant social and moral responsibilities to safeguard lives and maintain public trust.
**Action Required**
Internalize a spirit of innovation and research; prioritize patient interests above all else; and maintain a commitment to lifelong learning and ethical practice.
**AIIMS Nagpur and Medical Institutions**
**Impact**
Recognized as critical hubs for expanding medical education and bridging the gap in healthcare facilities between urban and rural populations.
**Action Required**
Continue working toward providing quality healthcare to everyone and leveraging new technologies to improve medical research and service delivery.
**Patients and the General Public**
**Impact**
Beneficiaries of enhanced access to medical treatment and the empathetic care provided by trained professionals.
**Action Required**
Treat medical professionals with respect to maintain the essential bond of trust required for effective treatment.
Key Entities Referenced
AIIMS Nagpur: A premier medical institution in Nagpur, Maharashtra, and the primary subject of the convocation ceremony where the President addressed healthcare education and research.
Droupadi Murmu: The President of India who delivered the convocation address emphasizing a patient-centric approach, medical ethics, and the integration of technology in healthcare.
Viksit Bharat: A national vision and initiative aimed at transforming India into a developed nation by the centenary of its independence in 2047.
President's Secretariat
PRESIDENT OF INDIA GRACES CONVOCATION
CEREMONY OF AIIMS NAGPUR
NO MATTER HOW ADVANCED THE TECHNOLOGY MAY
BECOME, IT CAN NEVER TAKE THE PLACE OF
COMPASSION, INTEGRITY AND A PATIENT-CENTRIC
APPROACH: PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU
Posted On: 15 APR 2026 1:18PM by PIB Delhi
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu graced and addressed the convocation ceremony of AIIMS
Nagpur at Nagpur, Maharashtra today (April 15, 2026).
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the field of medicine is not merely a profession; it is a
path for serving humanity with sensitivity. A doctor not only treats diseases but also instills hope in the
minds of those suffering from disease. The empathetic counsel which doctors provide offers strength not
only to the patient but also to their family members. Often, doctors encounter challenging situations; yet,
even in such circumstances, they must maintain sensitivity toward the patient and their family. Patients
and their families, too, should always treat medical professionals with respect. This is essential for
maintaining the bond of trust between a doctor and a patient.
The President said that the good health of citizens is as important for the nation's progress as it is for their
own personal well-being. To ensure that citizens remain healthy and are able to contribute to nation-
building to their full potential, the Government of India has taken several significant steps over the past
decade.
The President said that the establishment of new AIIMS across the country has not only enhanced access
to better medical treatment but has also expanded opportunities for medical education. She was happy to
note that within just a few years of its establishment, AIIMS Nagpur has established itself as a leading
centre for medical education, research and excellent healthcare services.
The President said that the present era is the time of rapid transformation in healthcare sector. Across the
globe, unprecedented progress is being made in the field of medicine through new technologies like
Artificial Intelligence, digital health services and advanced research. We must move forward by embracingthese changes. Technological developments should be leveraged to bridge the disparity in healthcare
facilities between rural and urban areas and to ensure that quality healthcare reaches everyone. She was
happy to note that AIIMS Nagpur is continuously working in this direction.
The President said that doctors hold a high status in society. People respect them and place their trust in
them. They entrust doctors with the responsibility of safeguarding their health and lives, as well as those
of their loved ones. Therefore, it is the social and moral obligation of doctors to place the interests of their
patients above all else. By fulfilling this obligation conscientiously, they can further enhance their own
reputation as well as that of the medical profession.
The President said that along with the spirit of service, doctors must also cultivate a commitment to
lifelong learning. Curiosity is the foundation of progress. The drive to discover novel solutions within
medical science will not only help them become exceptional doctors but will also provide them with
greater opportunities to serve. She advised young doctors to internalize the spirit of innovation, research
and continuous learning. She also advised them to always bear in mind that ethical values hold a
paramount position in the field of medicine. She said that no matter how advanced the technology may
become, it can never take the place of compassion, integrity and a patient-centric approach. She urged
them to always nurture a spirit of compassion.
The President said that those associated with the medical fraternity are fortunate to have received the
unique opportunity to serve humanity. They should take pride in this responsibility and discharge it with
sensitivity. She expressed confidence that the graduating students will not only achieve success in their
personal lives but will also contribute to keeping fellow citizens healthy. On the strength of such efforts,
we will succeed in achieving the goal of a Viksit Bharat by the centenary year of our independence.
Please click here to see the President's Speech-****
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