How AI and ML are transforming the healthcare industry

Al-powered tools facilitate faster, more affordable, personalized, effective, and equitable treatment and better patient outcomes

- Rohan Nag

Access to basic healthcare is seen as a fundamental global right. However, in both developed and developing economies, we find the surge in chronic lifestyle ailments and rising populations overburdens healthcare systems. The pandemic exacerbated the situation, stretching the patience and resilience of healthcare workers to the maximum as well as highlighting the economic divide between the haves and have-nots.

When we refer to access to healthcare, we often restrict our thoughts to the ability to provide timely medicines to underprivileged people globally or diagnose ailments in time. Other forms of access are disguised and, for years, still need to be addressed. Treatment of rare diseases is a problem due to the long cycle and unfavorable economics of drug discovery. Many patients are prescribed generic cocktails of drugs as a part of their therapy which has multiple side effects; personalized medication is infeasible. Moreover, our healthcare infrastructure is not equipped to handle spikes in health situations due to a lack of planning and resources. These problems are silently costing patients their lives.

Against this worrying backdrop, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has provided a ray of hope to both physicians and patients. By harnessing AI-enabled tools, workflows and procedures are streamlined, making healthcare more affordable, personalized, effective, and equitable. With AI and ML, healthcare providers are better positioned to diagnose, treat, and prevent ailments.

Increasing Adoption and Advantages of AI/ML

We are in the midst of a silent revolution driven by algorithmic technologies disrupting the healthcare industry. More healthcare organizations are gradually using some form of AI in their regular operations.