Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Arab Health Congress 2025 will commence on Monday at the Dubai World Trade Centre and Conrad Dubai, bringing together over 250 speakers to discuss innovations in healthcare, featuring 10 CME accredited sessions and three Healthcare Business Forums.
This year's conference, running until January 30, focuses on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and its transformative potential in patient care.
Dr. Florian Roser, Institute Chair of the Neurological Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, shared his insights on AI's role in healthcare during an interview with Aletihad.
Dr. Roser stressed the importance of a human-centred approach in AI integration, explaining: "We often overlook the fact that humans have been the true 'AI' for generations - our ability to learn, adapt, and make decisions in real-time is what has driven healthcare forward long before the advent of technology."
He continued that while AI can enhance precision and efficiency, it is ultimately the human connection that truly transforms patient care.
"At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, we recognise that while AI can enhance precision and efficiency, it is the human connection that truly transforms patient care."
Dr. Roser explained that while technology assists in processing data, the essential role of caregivers, particularly their compassion and expertise, remains irreplaceable.
He believes that integrating AI with human intelligence ensures advanced care, compassion, as well as understanding, which ultimately leads to better patient outcomes.
Discussing AI's role in personalised medicine, Dr. Roser noted that AI is reshaping the field in ways that were once only imagined.
"AI is reshaping the future of personalised medicine in ways we could only imagine a decade ago. But the real power of AI is not just in analysing vast datasets, it is in how those insights become deeply personal to each patient."
He highlighted the importance of data, including patient histories and genetic profiles, as the foundation for a future where treatments are uniquely tailored to each individual.
AI empowers caregivers to make proactive, personalised decisions that focus on preventing illness, rather than merely reacting to it, which he sees as the future of healthcare.
On the future of health data in the UAE, Dr. Roser said the country is well-positioned to lead the development of a unified health data framework.
"The UAE is uniquely positioned to pioneer a unified health data framework. With its forward-thinking leadership and robust infrastructure, creating a unified framework is not just an aspiration - it is within reach."
He highlighted the importance of partnerships with organisations like the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH), M42, and other global collaborators to turn this vision into reality.
"AI thrives on collaboration. No single organisation or individual has all the answers, and that is the beauty of this space. My experience has shown me that the most impactful solutions arise when diverse minds - from technology, medicine, and policymaking - come together with a common purpose."
According to Dr. Roser, "we are already moving from a reactive to a proactive healthcare model, where personalised, predictive tools are embedded into everyday life."
AI has the potential to humanise healthcare, making it more accessible, efficient, and tailored to individual needs through innovations like digital twins, real-time health monitoring, and advanced robotics.
Dr. Maaz Shaikh, Vice President of Product Management at M42, also shared his insights on AI's integration in healthcare during his conversation with Aletihad.
He stressed the importance of privacy and ethics in AI development, stating: "Privacy and ethical consideration should be a priority focus for all AI development and implementation, especially when we are speaking about healthcare."
Dr. Shaikh introduced M42's MEDIC framework, a comprehensive approach to addressing privacy, ethics, bias, as well as clinical safety in AI models.
He also pointed to the role of transparency and explainable AI in building trust.
He discussed the integration of AI-powered solutions at M42, such as an AI-driven physician support system that automates administrative tasks, freeing up doctors' time to focus on patient care.
"By automating these tasks using LLMs, we can free up the doctor's time, and once they have time, they can invest this back into patient care, thereby helping them make better decisions and improve patient experience."
AI, according to Dr. Shaikh, can also help overcome the healthcare system's biggest challenges, particularly the ability to share medical data seamlessly across facilities.
He believes that AI can accelerate the process of integrating healthcare systems, making data more accessible and easier to use, thus enabling more efficient and collaborative care.
On the subject of a unified health data framework, Dr. Shaikh noted that collaboration at both the technology and policy levels is key to successful implementation.
He said that "unified data frameworks are one of the key first requirements to enable any interoperability", adding that "data literacy" will be essential for healthcare professionals to properly interpret AI systems and make informed decisions.
