Artificial Intelligence Drives Dubai¡¯s Healthcare Revolution

Dubai is swiftly becoming renowned as an international centre for healthcare that is embracing artificial intelligence (AI) technology. AI is revolutionising the medical field everywhere, and Dubai is at the forefront of this development, proving itself to be a truly global hub for healthcare.

Artificial Intelligence has the potential to bring hospitals to patients by using health data to treat patients, more quickly, efficiently and affordably. All thanks to continued commitment to technology and new innovations, which were on display at the recent Arab Health Exhibition and Congress 2023 in Dubai.

Dr Rasha Buhumaid, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, highlighted the role of technology in providing an improved experience to patients.

Speaking on the opening day of Arab Health 2023, Dr Buhumaid said, ¡°In emergency medicine, time is of the essence. We have that golden hour ¨C but sometimes seconds or minutes when our response to the patient is vital. New technologies are perhaps having more of a transformative effect in the emergency care sector than other areas of healthcare.¡±

Raghav Chopra

AI allows patient care systems to assess early signs and symptoms and direct patients to the best hospital, resulting in accurate and effective treatments. Another AI tool on display was from the UK's National Health Service, which can diagnose cardiac disease in just 20 seconds as opposed to the typical 13 minutes. Then there are portable point-of-care diagnostic devices, such as ECGs, that can send data directly to the doctor even before the patient enters the Emergency Room.

Dr. Azad Moopen, Chairman and Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare, feels the role AI can play in assessing patient data holds tremendous potential in healthcare. ¡°The data with healthcare systems is humongous and it is humanly impossible to look at it without the help of AI and technology. For example, the reporting of X-Rays, CT scans, MRIs in which AI can detect even small anomalies. Add to that the data uploaded with smart devices like health apps and watches can be assessed by AI to detect a person¡¯s health and alert their doctor.¡±

Raghav Chopra

The Dubai Health Authority also plans to use an AI-based healthcare model to promote early disease detection, prevent disease, and reduce treatment-related complications. Initially, this will be used to treat two diseases: diabetes and asthma.

For insurance companies, this means utilising a solid data base that will result in patients receiving evidence-based coverage, thereby lowering unnecessary costs. "The model is driven by quality outcomes and at its core lies the health of patients, it will help shift the focus on preventive care, which will benefit patients and lead to reduced healthcare expenditure thus leading to healthcare sustainability. It will also help enhance government's supervision of the health sector by overseeing clinical outcomes, economic and human-centric outcomes," said Saleh Al Hashimi, CEO of Dubai Health Insurance Corporation.

Raghav Chopra

The move to a technology driven medical sector has also opened the door for India¡¯s technology services providers to foray into the Dubai market. India¡¯s medical devices market is expected to reach USD 50bn by 2025.

Sunny Bose, Senior Deputy Director EEPC India, says India stands to gain a lot from Dubai¡¯s growth as a healthcare services hub owing to a strong base of technology services companies. ¡°Dubai opens the gateway for the entire MENA region for India. We have come with 30 Indian companies who are currently partnering with companies in Dubai. These companies are involved in transferring technological know-how.¡±

Raghav Chopra

The traditional approach to patient care has been touch driven. A human-to-human personalised experience, which works on both a physical and an emotional level, but this has led to a massive overburdening of the system where there just aren¡¯t enough resources available to keep up with the demand.

Artificial Intelligence and technology are helping bridge this gap. Indian companies working on AI, preventive healthcare, are proving to be vital centres for medical innovation, which in turn are likely to fulfil the demands generated in the Dubai healthcare sector.

Raghav Chopra

Given its business-friendly policies, advanced infrastructure, increased emphasis on public-private partnerships, and renewed commitment to a comprehensive approach to healthcare, Dubai provides a wealth of opportunities for investors from all over the world.