ith artificial intelligence potentially transforming healthcare globally, the use of AI in healthcare and medicine in Pakistan presents a new mix of opportunities, challenges and apprehensions.

Research and development, assisted by AI tools, is significantly contributing to enhancing patient care, improving diagnostics, developing drugs and vaccines as well as optimising medical workflows.

“Medical imaging, where AI algorithms analyse X-rays, MRIs and CT scans, identifies anomalies like tumors, fractures or cardiovascular issues more accurately and efficiently than traditional methods. This allows for earlier diagnosis and treatment, potentially saving lives,” says Prof Dr Asghar Naqi, principal of the Allama Iqbal Medical College/ Jinnah Hospital, Lahore.

Speaking to The News on Sunday, Dr Asghar Naqi, a professor of surgery, says that robotic surgery is based on AI, which helps control the movement of instruments and improves the safety profile.

However, he says AI cannot replace human intervention. “AI proposes solutions on the basis of algorithms that are based on human experience,” he says, quoting Yuval Noah Harari – a public intellectual, historian and writer – who says that “Machines can have artificial intelligence, but they can’t have consciousness, which is a human trait and, therefore, irreplaceable.” “AI will remain second fiddle to human intervention, especially in the field of healthcare, which involves life and death,” he adds.

AI is revolutionising personalised medicine. By analysing a patient’s genetic information, lifestyle and medical history, Dr Naqi says, AI can help predict which treatments are likely to be most effective for an individual. This leads to more targeted therapies, reducing trial-and-error approaches and minimising side effects.

With regard to challenges, Dr Naqi says that the cost-benefit ratio, such as in robotic surgery, is too high to be affordable for most people.

AI’s role in revolutionising medical science, he says, is inevitable. “Only the fear of unknown keeps people from adapting to something. In the past, some professors were apprehensive about laparoscopic surgery; thirty years down the line, most complicated surgical procedures are being performed using laparoscopic methods,” he adds.

Hamid Raza, a pharmaceutical industry expert, says that AI can accelerate the development of new medications by predicting how various compounds will interact with biological systems. “This speeds up the research process, formulations, quality assurance and storage, reducing the time and cost needed to bring new drugs to the market,” he says.

He says that robots have been used in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, thus reducing human involvement in drug manufacturing.

“AI-driven simulations and models help in identifying potential candidates for clinical trials,” he says, adding that this also helps in minimising drug side-effects and maintaining inventories.

The primary concern in application of AI in healthcare and medicine is the lack of infrastructure and technical expertise required to implement AI effectively. Many healthcare facilities, especially in rural areas, lack basic digital tools needed for AI integration.

Dr Javed Akram, president of the Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine, says that there is huge potential for AI integration in medicine, but medical practitioners lack awareness and training. “The PSIM has taken up the role of imparting trainings to medical practitioners to integrate AI to keep them abreast of medical advancements in the world,” he adds.

Dr Javed Akram, who was the health minister in the last caretaker set up in the Punjab, says governments have not prioritised AI integration which requires digitalising the entire healthcare system. It requires both hardware and software technologies. “The strengthening of the Health Information Management System will go a long way in regulating and organising patient load and patient care effectively,” he says.

He says that AI plays an extremely important role in development and execution of telemedicine, which helps in patient examination and prescription remotely.

Dr Akram proposes incorporating “AI in healthcare” as a separate subject in medical curriculum to equip medical students with the necessary knowledge and skills to prepare them for AI adaptation in healthcare and medicine.

A significant apprehension is the potential for job displacement among healthcare professionals. There is fear that AI could replace human jobs, leading to unemployment among doctors, nurses and support staff. “AI integration will not threaten jobs; it will rather compliment and empower medical practitioners,” Dr Akram says.

Some experts have ethical concerns regarding AI’s decision-making capabilities, particularly in life and death situations, where the responsibility and accountability for outcomes remain unclear. They say it also presents challenges about patient data privacy, potential biases in AI algorithms and the need for regulatory oversight to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Cultural resistance to technology adoption is also a hurdle. Many patients and healthcare providers may be reluctant to rely on AI, preferring traditional, human-led methods of diagnosis and treatment. Besides, the cost of implementing AI technologies is a challenge, as many healthcare institutions in Pakistan struggle with limited funding and resources.

Despite these challenges, the integration of AI in healthcare and medicine holds immense promise to improve patient outcomes, make healthcare more accessible and reduce costs. As AI technologies continue to evolve, their role in healthcare is likely to expand.

The writer is an investigative journalist associated with The News International, Pakistan. An EWC and GIJN fellow, he contributes to various international media outlets. His X handle: @AmerMalik3