A Digital Doctor for All: Can AI Revolutionise Healthcare in the Middle East?

The Middle East today faces a unique set of healthcare challenges. A rapidly growing population, coupled with drastic increases in chronic disease, is putting a strain on healthcare resources. Indeed, Frost and Sullivan estimate that by 2032, 97% of couples in the Middle East will struggle to conceive naturally due to the prevalence of chronic disease and environmental factors such as pollution.

Access to affordable healthcare varies significantly from country to country (World Bank). Where diagnostic and treatment options are readily available, the continued underrepresentation of Middle Eastern populations in clinical trials means that health outcomes are noticeably worse than in white Caucasian populations. In this turbulent landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) offers hope. It promises to bridge the health gaps among Middle Eastern populations and deliver high-quality, equitable care to people across the region.

 

The Potential of AI to Democratise Healthcare: A Beacon of Hope

Perhaps AI's greatest potential lies in its ability to democratise access to healthcare. By combining telehealth with AI, top-tier medical expertise can be made accessible to people living hundreds of miles from the nearest healthcare facility.

Statistics released by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in 2023 showed that telehealth services increased by 24 per cent in Dubai in 2022 compared to the previous year. When coupled with AI-powered diagnostic tools such as Infermedica's symptom checker and virtual triage, telehealth services offer viable care alternatives for remote and immobile patients, supporting those without access while helping to reduce unnecessary hospital visits.

AI-augmented care not only improves access to healthcare but also has the potential to alleviate the burden on overwhelmed healthcare systems, thereby offering significant economic benefits.

 

Addressing Systemic Biases: AI's Role in Ensuring a Fair Fight

Beyond access, AI can potentially combat inherent biases within the healthcare system.

Studies have revealed systemic racial and gender disparities in healthcare systems around the world (JAMA Network). For example, a woman of African origin in the US is four times more likely to die of pregnancy and childbirth-related complications than a white Caucasian woman.

AI algorithms, if trained on diverse datasets and ideally coupled with genetic data, could offer more appropriate diagnostic and treatment options for patients, potentially working overtime to eliminate racial and gender biases.

 

AI in Action: The Middle East Forges Ahead

Already, several Middle Eastern countries are at the forefront of AI-powered healthcare.

The UAE, for example, has invested heavily in developing AI infrastructure, talent, industry regulations, research, and centres of excellence as part of its National AI Strategy 2031. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 emphasises AI as a critical driver for healthcare transformation, with projects underway for AI-powered drug discovery and chronic disease management.

Other examples of initiatives in the Middle East using AI to address healthcare inequities include:

● UAE: Jameel Health, a leading healthcare distributor in Dubai, has partnered with iSono Health to bring its AI-powered ultrasound platform to the Global South. This platform allows midwives and less-experienced doctors to perform 3D breast ultrasound scans more accurately, particularly in remote areas, improving access to care for underserved communities.

● Egypt: Al Mouneer has developed an AI-powered wellness platform, Dru, to cater for the needs of individuals who are diabetic, pre-diabetic, or obese. Dru offers many features designed to give agency and control to its users as part of their wellness journey such as continuous glucose monitoring, a complete and organised repository of medical records, and round-the-clock access to a dedicated medical support team available through Dru's in-app chat.

● Lebanon: Since the 2020 Beirut explosion, Lebanon's strained healthcare system has struggled to meet the needs of its population, mainly the displaced. Researchers in Lebanon are experimenting with using AI chatbots to assist in patient admissions for MRI examinations and enhance care delivery.

 

AI and Women's Health

The Middle East, like many regions, faces a significant gender gap in healthcare access and health outcomes today.

Before 1993, women were largely excluded from clinical trials worldwide, meaning today, significant disparities exist in terms of health outcomes between men and women. For example, it takes, on average, four times longer to diagnose women with the same chronic conditions as men, even though women are twice as likely to see a doctor in the first place. In addition to this, cultural norms and limited access to female healthcare providers in the Middle East often leave women's health concerns unaddressed.

In the UAE, Nabta Health offers a compelling example of how AI can empower women and combat these inequities. NABTA's tech-enabled women's health clinics leverage an AI-powered chatbot to address women's health concerns from puberty to pregnancy through postpartum, perimenopause, and beyond. NABTA's library of content provides culturally sensitive information and guidance on topics like menstruation, fertility, pregnancy, and menopause. This readily available resource allows women to bypass social stigmas or geographic limitations and access essential healthcare knowledge coupled with personalised and actionable health insights.

NABTA's AI algorithms also analyse user data to identify potential health risks and recommend personalised care plans. For instance, the platform can analyse menstrual cycles to flag abnormalities or identify possible symptoms of chronic conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition that is 70% mis- or undiagnosed globally due to lack of awareness. By providing 24/7 access to information, dispelling myths, and offering personalised guidance, NABTA's AI approach and hybrid healthcare model empower women to take charge of their health and seek necessary medical attention, chipping away at the gender gap in healthcare access and understanding.

 

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite AI's many promises, challenges remain. Data privacy and security concerns and the fear of misdiagnosis and patient mismanagement make established healthcare providers hesitant to adopt or even consider trialling novel AI-powered tools and pathways without robust regulatory frameworks. Meanwhile, implementing AI demands reliable internet infrastructure and significant computing power, which, in turn, requires consuming a considerable amount of natural resources, especially water.

As AI becomes more widespread, ethical considerations regarding bias in AI algorithms and the extent to which these become self-reinforcing need to be addressed to develop a more equitable healthcare landscape.

 

Conclusion

AI is not a silver bullet, but it is a powerful tool with the potential to revolutionise healthcare in the Middle East. Suppose AI is used to address inequalities in terms of access and combat systemic gender and racial biases in healthcare. In that case, it can usher in an era of high-quality, equitable care for all. Embracing this technology with a focus on ethical implementation and an understanding that perhaps the brightest future for AI in healthcare is in the creation of augmented intelligence - of patients, practitioners, and machines - will empower the Middle East to leapfrog traditional healthcare models and create a healthier future for those of us who call the region home.