Artificial intelligence (AI) is currently transforming healthcare, making surgeries safer, quicker, and more accurate.
This assertion comes from leading experts at the WHX Tech event, which occurred from September 8-10 in Dubai.
Sandip Kumar, the Chief Digital and Innovation Officer at King’s College Hospital in London, UAE, shared insights with Gulf Business about the implementation of AI in surgical environments across the region. “In procedures like endoscopy, where cameras are inserted into the body, AI technologies assist in real-time detection of cancers or abnormalities,” he noted.
Discover more about how WHX Tech’s Connections Programme is transforming healthcare investment
AI systems can analyze a 15-minute endoscopic video and identify potential issues in mere seconds, allowing surgeons to react promptly and concentrate on critical areas.
Moreover, AI plays a crucial behind-the-scenes role in robotic-assisted surgeries, where systems monitor procedures in real time, detect abnormalities, and uphold quality standards. “It serves as an extra set of eyes, aiding the surgical team,” Kumar stated.
In Australia, AI has become integral to stroke management, with automated systems quickly identifying brain hemorrhages, locating them, and even guiding robotic platforms with surgical precision to the affected areas. “Time is essential in stroke situations. During my tenure at a stroke center in Australia, we extensively utilized AI for rapid interventions,” Kumar added.
Simple Tools, Significant Impact
The application of AI reaches beyond complex surgeries; it also addresses fundamental challenges in operating rooms.
“A frequent issue globally is that surgeries often commence without all necessary specialized instruments,” Kumar pointed out. Frequently, general kits are used instead of specific ones for procedures, leading to instruments going missing during operations and causing delays in critical care.
AI is tackling this issue through computer vision systems that verify instruments before surgeries begin. These systems ensure cleanliness, confirm tools, and match surgical kits to particular procedures. “This might seem basic, but it’s crucial. Getting it right leads to fewer delays and improved patient outcomes,” Kumar stressed.
The UAE’s Digital Readiness for AI Growth
The UAE has established a solid foundation for healthcare innovation, exemplified by initiatives like the Abu Dhabi Health Information Exchange (Malaffi) and mandates for unified electronic medical records.
Kumar emphasized that it is now time for the nation to shift its focus from infrastructure development to practical implementation. “The next step is execution. We need to present this data in meaningful ways to foster innovations that emphasize patient needs,” he explained.
At King’s College Hospital in Dubai, this transition is already in progress. “Since my arrival, we have initiated over 15 AI projects aimed at positively influencing patient outcomes,” Kumar noted.
A prominent application is in breast radiology, where patients receiving mammograms are assessed by both a skilled radiologist and an AI system known as Lunit AI, which acts as a diagnostic partner, scanning images to reveal subtle details that might be overlooked by human eyes.
“We are also implementing similar technologies in pathology,” Kumar remarked. “We utilize AI to analyze blood tests and medical histories, identifying patterns that could foresee diseases before symptoms manifest.”
Translating Lab Results for Patients: AI in Communication
A promising aspect of AI is ambient listening technology, which summarizes doctor-patient interactions in real time. These AI tools passively listen during consultations and create summaries for both the doctor and the patient.
“Patients often forget significant portions of what their doctors tell them before they leave the office,” Kumar observed. “This technology helps to bridge that communication gap.”
Importantly, the summaries translate complex medical terms into simple language. A patient might receive a summary that states: “You met with Dr. A, your consultation focused on X. The recommendations were A, B, and C. Here’s what those imply for you.”
This clarity ensures patients understand their care plans and follow through more effectively.
Addressing Bias in AI: A Universal Challenge with Local Solutions
While AI holds great potential, it also presents a significant risk: bias.
“AI could serve as a great equalizer, but only if it is developed and utilized equitably,” warned Dr. Harvey Castro, MD, an advisor on AI and healthcare for the Singapore Government. He emphasized this during a session at the WHX Tech event.
“Training a model on one demographic and applying it to another could lead to misdiagnoses,” he cautioned.
Dr. Castro advocates for the development of region-specific AI training. “Models should be trained according to geographic location and community demographics. Hospitals serve varied populations, and a universal model simply does not suit the healthcare landscape.”
This urgency is particularly relevant in diverse nations like the UAE, where a variety of populations seek care. Without localized AI training, outcomes may be skewed and dangerous.
Combining Robotics with Human Empathy: Enhancing, Not Replacing
Dr. Castro also pointed out the importance of merging robotics with human empathy for the future of medicine. “We aren’t replacing healthcare professionals with machines; rather, we are enhancing their capabilities,” he explained.
This might manifest as smart glasses providing discreet suggestions to physicians during patient interactions, such as prompts to check specific details. These recommendations, based on real-time AI analysis, aim to enhance human judgment.
Menial tasks such as charting and logistics can be automated, allowing clinicians to concentrate on what truly matters: compassionate presence and intricate decision-making. “In some areas of healthcare, fully autonomous AI implementations are already occurring. For instance, in Singapore, prescription kiosks refill orders after tele-consultations without human involvement,” Dr. Castro noted.
Nonetheless, both Castro and Kumar emphasize the necessity of human oversight for intricate, emotional, or high-risk decisions. “We still require doctors; we just need them equipped with superior tools,” Castro concluded.
The Importance of Regulation: A ‘Nutrition Label’ for AI
As AI becomes a core element of clinical operations, governance is becoming a crucial issue. Currently, even general-purpose tools like ChatGPT are used in medical contexts without specific certification for such applications.
“That poses significant dangers,” Dr. Castro warned. “We need transparency akin to a nutrition label for AI.”
Similar to how consumers check the nutrition contents of food, healthcare professionals need to be informed about the training data of an AI model, its accuracy, and its potential risks.
“If the model was trained primarily on data from specific populations, we must not assume it will perform consistently with entirely different groups,” he said. “Countries need to invest in developing their models with their unique data. While it may be costly, it’s essential to ensure safety and fairness.”
A Future with Human-AI Collaboration
Artificial intelligence is set to become the most potent asset in healthcare, but only if it is deployed ethically, regulated wisely, and integrated empathetically.
From surgical rooms in Dubai to telemedicine kiosks in Singapore, the underlying message is clear: AI is not about replacing healthcare providers; it’s about empowering them.
As Sandip Kumar reiterates, “The time has come to transition from merely building infrastructure to delivering authentic, patient-oriented innovation. The resources are at our disposal. It’s time to utilize them wisely.”