KwaZulu-Natal MEC urges doctors, hospitals to embrace AI tools

KWAZULU-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has called on the medical fraternity to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a partner in care, not a threat.

- SIPHESIHLE BUTHELEZI

Simelane made the call during the recent launch of the South African Medical Association's (SAMA) KZN provincial structure and AI interactive workshop in Durban, urging health professionals to consider how technology could transform patient care across the province.

“AI should not be seen as an enemy that will take away jobs. Rather, it should be viewed as a partner... a tool that can help doctors, nurses, and managers to be more efficient, accurate, and responsive,” she said.

She added that when used wisely, AI could “shorten diagnostic times, support early detection of diseases, improve hospital management systems, reduce human error, and free up healthcare workers to focus on the human side of care, which machines can never replicate.”