Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Experts and specialists in the fields of health and technology, participating in an extensive scientific symposium organised by TRENDS Research and Advisory, emphasised that artificial intelligence (AI) now plays a pivotal role in various aspects of healthcare.
However, this role does not imply replacing doctors with robots but rather serving as an indispensable assistant in the medical sector in the near future.
They pointed out the importance of raising awareness about technology and AI among Arab societies to ensure a deeper understanding and broader benefit from these technologies.
AI helps reduce treatment costs, efficiently manage human resources, increase productivity, and improve the environment for research and innovation.
Titled "The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Improving Healthcare Quality: Insights from Survey Results," the symposium was moderated by Mariam Al-Jneibi, a researcher at TRENDS.
Notably, it was held in collaboration with several strategic partners, including the Dubai Health Authority, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan, and Moharram and Partners for Public Affairs and Strategic Communication.
Advanced Technologies
Al-Jneibi said that the world has witnessed tremendous developments in AI in recent years, and its applications have spread across various fields.
However, the healthcare sector remains one of the most promising beneficiaries of these advanced technologies, she added.
TRENDS has kept pace with AI developments through an elite survey on "The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Improving Healthcare," Al-Jneibi noted.
The symposium discussed the survey results with experts in healthcare and technology and explored how modern technologies can advance healthcare.
Deputy Head of the TRENDS Dubai Sector and Director of the Global Barometer Department, Sultan Majed, began the discussions with a keynote address.
He stated that AI has become a significant area of focus in recent years, with statistics showing that 39 percent of people have a general interest in the role of AI in improving healthcare.
These figures are based on an elite survey conducted by TRENDS.
This symposium aims to delve deeper into AI and understand its role in enhancing healthcare services.
Directed and Sustainable Training
Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at the American University in Cairo, Dr. Seham Elmrayed, highlighted that TRENDS' survey results revealed that four percent of participants work in the healthcare sector, and five percent are knowledgeable about health education.
Surprisingly, only 10 percent of participants were aware of AI technologies in healthcare, and just 14 percent recognised the importance of cybersecurity.
She emphasised that training and qualifying healthcare workers to handle AI technologies should rely on directed and sustainable training programmes to enhance the capabilities of healthcare teams to interact with innovative systems.
Additionally, the Arab world needs to adopt an integrated educational approach, incorporating AI into the educational process.
Head of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Office at the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan, Dr. Iyad Sultan, found TRENDS' survey results on "The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Improving Healthcare" surprising.
Over 70 percent of respondents were young people under 45, yet they were not familiar with AI technologies.
Sultan stressed that AI's role in diagnosing diseases, analysing tests, radiology, and reports is undeniable.
It is essential and will gradually integrate into medical practice. However, this does not mean replacing doctors with robots, but rather, AI will be a crucial and indispensable component in the medical sector in the near future, he explained.
Cybersecurity Concerns
Head of the ICT Sector at Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Dr. Ahmed Samir, attributed public hesitation to adopt AI technologies to concerns about cyberattacks that could leak patients' personal information.
Some fears may also be influenced by media portrayals and science fiction films, he noted.
Samir explained that AI technologies are used in medical fields to analyse large data sets with precision and speed surpassing human capabilities.
These technologies are actively used in tumor and radiology analysis, making them an integral part of the current healthcare system, he elaborated.
Vice President for ICT Sector at Moharram and Partners for Public Affairs and Strategic Communication, Dr. Samar Sobeih, affirmed that TRENDS' survey on "The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Improving Healthcare" underscores the importance of raising awareness about technology and AI in Arab societies.
The world also needs specific policies for AI applications in the medical field, she added.
Opportunities and Challenges
Consultant in the Data Analysis, Research and Studies Department at the Dubai Health Authority, Dr. Hamid Yahya, highlighted the promising opportunities AI will offer in healthcare, including increased disease diagnosis capabilities, reduced treatment costs, efficient human resource management, increased productivity, improved research and innovation environments, and predicting future health trends.
Regarding the challenges facing AI applications in healthcare, Yahya emphasised that they range from “privacy concerns, establishing a high-tech infrastructure, integrating and aligning existing health technologies with AI technologies, to regulations and policies governing the use of these technologies.”
