AI in healthcare: Is it a luxury or a necessity?

by Brigitte Leonard, Ph.D

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a game-changer in healthcare, offering immense potential to enhance diagnostics and patient management. While there may be concerns about its impact, the real focus should be on how to safely integrate AI for the benefit of patients. The speed of scientific knowledge that influences clinical practice has surpassed human capacity, making AI a necessary tool in our healthcare system. The healthcare system can offer better support for people suffering from rare conditionswithAI.

In the past, diseases were classified by anatomic sites as the underlying molecular abnormalities were beyond our reach. However, with improved molecular comprehension, scientists can now reclassify different pathologies, leading to more efficient access to treatment. The pace of change in diagnostic and treatment guidelines is unprecedented. In the near future, healthcare professionals who embrace AI will be best equipped to provide services in line with the latest knowledge. With AI, the best practices currently limited to specialized academic hospitals can be madeuniversallyaccessible,revolutionizinghealthcare.

As a patient advocacy group, we greatly respect healthcare professionals. We witness their dedication to do everything humanly possible to treat us or our loved ones with dignity. However, the facts are undeniable. Studies have estimated that diagnostic errors affect 5% to 10% of adults in the US (1, 2). Imagine more than 5% receiving a wrong diagnosis, meaning they receive the wrong treatment. These individuals continue to suffer from their disease, impacting their QoL and potentially their overall survival. Besides the human cost, this situation overloads the healthcare systems in terms of human resources and dollars. AI has the potential to reduce these numbers significantly. For instance, AI from Babylon Health scored 82 percent in diagnostic accuracy instead of the human average mark of 72 percent (2) Another estimate suggests that machine learning algorithms can make a diagnosis accurate 87% of the time, and with deep learning, they canreachasuccessrateof97-98% (3).

As we integrate AI into healthcare, we must engage in robust discussions about the regulations and mechanisms that will protect patients. Equally important is optimizing healthcare professionals' roles regarding this new technology because their role will remain crucial. However, amidst these considerations, we must remember that AI is not a luxury but a necessity inourhealthcaresystem.