Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (DUBAI)
The role of artificial intelligence in healthcare – particularly in enhancing diagnostics, patient outcomes, and operational efficiency – was highlighted by experts participating in the World Health Expo Dubai 2026 (WHX).
Dr Marc Succi, Founder and Executive Director of the MESH Incubator at Mass General Brigham and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, said that embedding innovation into workflows and governance structures is what determines whether ideas scale successfully.
AI, for example, is already delivering tangible benefits in lower-risk areas, although there are certain limitations, such as hallucinations in large language models, Succi told Aletihad. “Things where I think it has made a big difference – and we can quantify – include decreased physician burnout, time saved on administrative work, and improvements in ambient documentation.”
Paul Downey, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Biobank, emphasised the critical role of data and the transformative impact of AI in leveraging it.
“The value of a biobank is in the breadth and depth of the data.” He explained that while large datasets once required extensive manual analysis, artificial intelligence is accelerating the process of identifying patterns and insights.
“Now, with the advent of AI, I think we can accelerate that data mining process, look for the patterns in the data, look for the insights, and realise opportunities much quicker than before,” Downey told Aletihad.
He highlighted the UAE’s national initiatives, including genome sequencing and unified electronic medical records, describing the country as a forerunner in integrating innovation at scale.
However, he stressed the importance of screening and participation. “A biobank relies on participation. Only when large numbers of people contribute their information can we come up with better medicines, and improve early detection.”
Vivek Kanade, Managing Director, Siemens Healthineers Middle East & Africa, said the company is showcasing patient-centric, AI clinical pathways, focusing on oncology, cardiology, and neurology. “AI is already making a tangible difference in clinical environments. It supports faster diagnosis, prioritises urgent cases, automates repetitive tasks and enhances image quality, allowing clinicians to focus more time on patient care,” Kanade told Aletihad.
