The Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHAP, recently organized the 1st Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, as part of its activities in the “UAE Innovation Month – February 2020” with the aim of exploring the future of artificial intelligence-based healthcare, focusing on technology applications in healthcare and best practices of digital transformation technologies in health projects.

The conference, which was held on February 17-18, saw the participation of international and local experts and health care professionals, and representatives of specialized institutions and companies in the innovation, digital health, IT and artificial intelligence domains.

The event is a good opportunity for AI and its impact on various factors of healthcare settings, enhancing the AI strategy, showcasing the latest technologies in healthcare innovation, bringing together successful startups and technology giants, and focusing on practical applications and best practices in successful projects. The conference also offers a wide variety of ideas from innovation leaders, academic experts, and healthcare professionals.

Held at MoHAP’s Training & Development Center in Sharjah, the conference was attended by HE Awad Saghir Al Ketbi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Support Services, Saqr Al-Hemeiri, Director of the Training & Development Center and Chief Innovation Officer, Ali Al-Ajmi, Director of the Health Information Systems Department, Alya Zaid Harbi, Director of the Health Statistics and Research Center.

Also attending were speakers from local health agencies, governmental and private academic institutions from the UAE and abroad.

Incorporating Healthcare into Smart Services

Commenting on the conference activities, HE Awad Saghir Al Ketbi said: “Organizing the 1st Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare is part of MoHAP’s endeavors to support the qualitative transformation to digital health technologies and to enhance mechanisms for integrating artificial intelligence into medical services as part of exploring the healthcare future. This can be achieved by leveraging smart technologies and innovating paths and proactive solutions to enhance health care and achieve the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development towards providing good health and well-being in accordance with the directives of the wise leadership to lead the future.”

“MoHAP is keen to improve the quality of life and the sustainability of health care using artificial intelligence techniques, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), telemedicine devices and Blockchain. The conference will also aim to review the developments of digital health technologies and the latest innovations, exchange experiences and knowledge about the role of artificial intelligence technologies in serving patients. This would help enhance the healthcare experience, reduce costs and implement best practices to improve healthcare outcomes in the UAE,” he explained.

AI and Future Hospitals

The conference also included holding lectures on automation strategies for the health sector, integrating artificial intelligence algorithms into medical services, and a presentation on the strategic value of artificial intelligence and innovation in the health care system in the UAE.

This is in addition to lectures on the impact of the digital transformation on the quality of the healthcare environment, how to harness artificial intelligence technologies in the sustainable healthcare, and the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence for regulators in the health sector.

In the same context, speakers from Monash University, Australia, spoke about the university's experience in virtual hospitals to provide remote healthcare services based on the patient's needs.

In addition, lectures were held on the role of technology and artificial intelligence in supporting and providing healthcare, especially in the prevention and early detection of chronic diseases, the mechanism of carrying out artificial intelligence to help specialists reduce medical errors, exploring treatment methods and providing the best health care to patients.

Providing Safe and Effective Healthcare Services

In turn, Ali Al-Ajmi underlined that the aim of this event is to bring together healthcare experts to showcase the latest innovations, advanced treatment methods and exchange experiences on the role of artificial intelligence and information technology in providing safe, reliable and effective healthcare, and improving the quality of the healthcare environment.

Al-Ajmi pointed out that MoHAP has taken lead globally in terms of implementing the AI technologies in healthcare, as part of the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy and predictive data analysis. This would lead to supporting future medical decisions, remote monitoring of patients’ conditions, providing preventive health care, and reducing health care costs.

Role of AI in Healthcare

While Saqr Al-Hemeiri said: “This conference is an opportunity to showcase innovations in the advanced technology field, the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare and virtual hospitals, discuss effective elements of innovation, the latest innovative technologies and technology platforms in healthcare, and identifying to what extent patients and clients interact with and benefit from AI services in the health field.”

In turn, Alya Zaid Harbi made a presentation on ways to develop therapeutic and health quality and safety systems, based on statistical facts and smart analysis tools for decision-making and the enactment of appropriate health policies.