The growing demand for healthcare services, a scarcity of clinical resources, inequitable access, and unjustified variation in care have all contributed to a significant level of interest in the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare industry. AI applications are being developed and tested across the industry, including clinical diagnostics, treatment processes (surgical robotics), personal health apps, demographic stratification, and pharmaceutical research, as well as hospital administration and workflows.
The majority of artificial intelligence (AI) systems now being developed, however, have fairly restricted areas of interest and were created to perform or make choices on extremely specialized activities. When applied in the actual world, these AI applications invariably fail. To maximize the potential of AI in healthcare, the issues of unstructured, non-standardized data, various patient populations, varying processes, and treatment regimens must be addressed.
If the Middle East market is to fully realize its potential, a specific set of opportunities and challenges must be identified and addressed in the future years. The major players in the healthcare industry will need to pursue an integrated strategy across four important aspects.
1. Regulatory framework
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have issued preliminary rules for the use of AI in healthcare, with a special emphasis on medical equipment. Currently, the regulatory environment is focused on the deployment of tested AI applications. It must be broadened in order to nurture and govern an active AI innovation and development ecosystem for healthcare applications.
2. Data management
AI is only as good as the data it is fed. Data management methods must be greatly improved, with a focus on data standardisation, data collecting automation, integration of multiple information systems from various providers, and data privacy and protection. The implementation of the NABIDH (Dubai) Standard, Abu Dhabi's Healthcare Information and Cyber Security (ADHICS) Standard, and Saudi Arabia's Unified Health Record Systems and electronic health data sharing are all positive advances in this direction. However, both public and private health systems must make significant investments in automating data collection, training frontline personnel in data management practices, and ensuring data fidelity across all domains.
3. Deployment of successful AI solutions
Several effective AI solutions have been created and implemented throughout international healthcare ecosystems. In the region's public and private healthcare facilities, they have been adopted to varying degrees. Adoption and usage of AI solutions will increase with greater profusion of tested solutions.
4. The development of fresh and cutting-edge AI applications for the Middle East
Since AI solutions are trained using a small collection of demographic profiles, one of their main problems is that they are not adaptable to other population groups. It is essential for the Middle East to support and invest in a local AI development community that is focused on addressing regional problems and providing customized solutions.