Saudi and British Experts Discuss AI and Technology's Role in Transforming Healthcare: Preventive Care, Virtual Visits, and AI-Powered Diagnostics
Experts from Saudi Arabia and Britain emphasized the significance of artificial intelligence and technology in enhancing healthcare at the GREAT Futures Conference in Riyadh.
The Kingdom aims to reduce waiting times, costs, and improve quality of life through a more preventive, patient-centric system that brings care into people's homes.
Digital health is prioritized in Saudi Arabia due to its potential to enhance healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, and drive economic growth.
Panel discussions revealed the increasing role of technology in the evolving healthcare landscape.
The CEO of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, Al-Shaibani, spoke about the Saudi government's initiative to improve the health of its citizens by integrating health, equity, and sustainability into all decision-making processes.
He emphasized the collaboration between various sectors to make this future a reality.
The speakers also discussed the potential use of wearable technology to bridge the gap between primary and secondary care by tracking patients' vitals and uploading them to a unified database, allowing medical professionals to better understand patients' conditions before secondary care.
The initiative aims to create an environment that promotes citizens' well-being and could lead to more effective healthcare services.
Al-Homod, the undersecretary of state for the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health, expressed the potential of innovation in secondary care to reduce costs and improve efficiency, even as it could become expensive.
He expressed optimism about the healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia, stating that there is a strong focus on people and a clear strategy for innovation.
The healthcare ecosystem in Saudi Arabia is eager for new technologies, particularly in the context of potential collaboration with the UK.
Al-Homod highlighted the extensive database of the UK's National Health System (NHS), which has been in existence since 1948, making it one of the largest databases in the world.
The possibility of using AI in healthcare was also discussed.
The text discusses the potential use of diverse population data in AI technology for pattern detection, specifically in the field of medicine for early detection and treatment of conditions like dementia.
Markham from the UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology emphasizes the value of this data for AI analysis and its ability to uncover previously undetected patterns.
The British and Saudi Arabian governments have signed an agreement to collaborate on research and development in deep-tech and science fields.
Al-Otaibi discussed the future plans of dispersing SR312 million ($83 million) through the Research Lab Support Program to fund 30 entities managing 86 research labs in the Kingdom, with a focus on accelerating research and development, particularly in the field of medicine.