A robot with a steth and scalpel? UAE healthcare set to embrace radical changes

Dubai - Potential for both AI and robotics in sector is vast

How likely would it be for artificial intelligence and robotics in medicine replace the human clinician?
Not yet, but healthcare is changing and the UAE is all set to embrace radical changes.
According to a PwC study, majority of consumers are willing to receive care from these advanced technologies, which have the potential to transform healthcare delivery to make it better, faster and more accessible for all. Artificial intelligence is getting increasingly sophisticated at doing what humans do - but more efficiently, quicker and at a lower cost.
The potential for both AI and robotics in healthcare is vast. Just like in our everyday lives, AI and robotics are increasingly a part of our healthcare ecosystem.
Frost & Sullivan predicts that the AI market for healthcare will increase by 40 per cent between 2014 and 2021.
And the consultancy estimates growth in the segment from $633.8 million to $6.662 billion in next four years.
The findings are explored in PwC's report, "What doctor? Why AI and robotics will define new health", which is based on a commissioned survey of over 11,000 people from 12 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Across the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, more than half of respondents (55 per cent) said they were willing to use advanced computer technology or robots with AI that can answer health questions, perform tests, make a diagnosis and recommend treatment.

The survey found that even in the operating theatre, respondents would be willing for a robot to perform a minor surgical procedure instead of a doctor, with close to half and up to 73 per cent of all respondents willing. In the Middle East, willingness ranged from 50 per cent for the UAE to 55 per cent for Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Respondents in Nigeria, Turkey and South Africa were the most willing to undergo minor surgery performed by robots (73 per cent, 66 per cent and 62 per cent, respectively), with the UK the least willing (36 per cent).
Dr Azad Moopen, founder chairman and managing director of Aster DM Healthcare, said the group has heavily invested in cutting-edge medical technology by installing three daVinci surgical robots in Aster's hospitals in Kochi, Bengaluru and Calicut in India.
"We have 20 surgeons trained in robotic surgery who have done more than 200 surgeries in the last two years. We plan to bring robotic surgery to Dubai in the future," he said.
PwC's report has brought out three main themes emerged from the findings: people are increasingly willing to engage with AI and robots if it means better access to healthcare; speed and accuracy of diagnosis and treatment is a critical factor for this willingness and trust in the technology is vital for wider use and adoption; and the human touch remains a key component of the healthcare experience.
Technology is certainly becoming an important component of healthcare delivery. There are some areas like primary care, remote diagnostics, telemonitoring, etc, which will have more and more of machine and robot interface in medicine.
Dr Tim Wilson, Middle East health industries leader at PwC, clearly endorses the Middle East leading the change and he attributes the factors to clinical workforce shortages in the region, combined with a young, digitally-minded population to boost adoption of AI and robotics. PwC thinks the Middle East could leapfrog other countries in these technologies.
"We would like to see the Middle East invest and become a global centre of excellence for AI and robotics in healthcare, bringing benefits locally and becoming a place that other countries look to for healthcare innovation," said Dr Wilson.
Adoption of AI and robotics may be a welcome change in order to streamline, and achieve accurate results with algorithms in use.
Taher Shams, managing director at Zulekha Healthcare Group, said the brand will embrace AI and robotics for sure. He said the group has multi-skilled people across teams and will work towards training and deploying employees across functions to support the automation.
"We have done for all cutting edge diagnostic equipment which work like robots. We believe AI is the future and it's here to stay for good and replace many more human roles with accuracy and precision," he said.
However, Shams thinks parallel to this transition, empathy, compassion and reassurance which a patient always needs, cannot be compromised.
 
What are the next steps that should be taken?
. Governments need to create quality standards and a regulatory framework which are applicable to and obligatory for the entire healthcare sector, as well as the appropriate incentives for adopting new approaches.
. Healthcare professionals need to understand how AI and robotics have the potential to work for and with them in a medical setting as well as throughout the healthcare ecosystem, and be open to change.
. Patients need to become more accustomed to AI and robots and discover its benefits for themselves.
. The private sector developing AI and robotics need to create solutions to solve the big issues of demand and resource that every health system faces. In essence, by providing AI and robotic-driven solutions, the private sector has the opportunity to disrupt healthcare for the good.
. Decision-makers at healthcare institutions need to develop an evidence base, measure the success and the effectiveness of the new technology and prioritise and focus on what consumers want and need.
- sandhya@khaleejtimes.com