AS THE healthcare landscape continues to evolve , the integration of telemedicine and artificial intelligence ( AI ) is poised to transform patient care profoundly over the next decade .

Hospital Canselor Tuanku Mukhriz ( HCTM ) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia ( UKM ) Kuala Lumpur Campus Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Hanafiah Harunarashid offered a detailed vision of this transformation , underlining the gradual but impactful changes that these technologies will bring to the healthcare system .

“ Some twenty years ago , people have already been talking about the rise of telemedicine and how it would change healthcare indefinitely ,” said Dr Hanafiah .

“ The pace of change is likely to be gradual rather than abrupt . Meaningful change in patient care would likely be felt as and when AI is used effectively for the mundane routine processes that support the delivery of care , from scheduling , patient billing and reimbursement and exchange of medical records .”

MODELLING PATIENT NEEDS

While significant AI advancements have been made in diagnostic aspects of care , the actual bottleneck in healthcare services lies in these administrative and logistical areas .

AI ’ s potential to analyse patient and population-level trends is immense . By processing and analysing years of historical records , AI can model patient needs and behaviour , enabling better management of patient flows and predicting disease outbreaks .

However , integrating these technologies into day-to-day activities requires mature practices , policies , and regulations .

“ Current models of generative AI may be advanced enough to take over much of the clinical administrative work . However , the practice , its related policies , and regulations have yet to mature enough to integrate these helpful technologies effectively in day-to-day activities .

“ Perhaps as AI gets more pervasive in the mainstream , the adoption rate would follow suit eventually ,” Dr Hanafiah noted .

“ Current models of generative AI may be advanced enough to take over much of the clinical administrative work . However , the practice , its related policies , and regulations have yet to mature enough to integrate these helpful technologies effectively in day-to-day activities .”

– Prof Datuk Dr Hanafiah Harunarashid

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Public-private partnerships ( PPPs ) are crucial

in advancing digital health initiatives , especially given the financial and logistical challenges .

“ The public sector healthcare system is typically slower to implement digital health initiatives due to its size ,” explained Dr Hanafiah .

“ Due to this , the public sector has always been at the forefront of providing the regulatory framework , whilst the private sector has always been the early adopter due to its commercial nature .”

By outsourcing certain services to private healthcare institutions , the public sector can benefit from the private sector ’ s capacity and efficiency , leading to tighter integration between the two .

“ PPP is likely the mainstay for advancing digital health initiatives , as the expenses may be too high for the government to bear alone ,” said Dr Hanafiah .

REACHING THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

A significant challenge in digital health is ensuring accessibility for underserved communities . Dr Hanafiah emphasized that new technologies can widen the divide if social inclusion is not prioritized .

“ All developers and providers must be trained in approach for inclusive development and must make social inclusion a priority in the development and deployment of new initiatives in digital health ,” he urged .

Mobile technologies have made digital

health more accessible , providing basic information , remote diagnostics , and mobile phone communication with doctors .

However , this solution has its limitations . “ There are still areas with limited or no mobile coverage , which remains a significant hurdle ,” Dr Hanafiah acknowledged .

A MARATHON , NOT A SPRINT

Dr Hanafiah likened the digital transformation journey to a marathon rather than a project with a definite end .

“ Digital transformation requires a plan , preparation , and tactical changes along the way . If you don ’ t plan properly , you will fail ,” he warned .

To ensure the success of digital health initiatives , the healthcare sector must be prepared for ongoing adaptation and remain flexible .

Digital health , while promising , may initially add confusion to the healthcare landscape as providers push “ digital ” as the primary value proposition . This could overshadow the primary goal of enhancing healthcare services .

“ It is in our best interest to stay informed about developments and voice our concerns if providers stray from improving patient care ,” Dr Hanafiah advised .

A CALL TO EMBRACE THE FUTURE

Embracing digital health is inevitable and essential for the future of healthcare . However , it requires careful planning , ongoing adaptation , and a steadfast commitment to improving patient care .

As digital health technologies mature and stabilise , they promise a more efficient , accessible , and effective healthcare system .

By integrating AI a nd telemedicine and fostering public-private partnerships , Malaysia is on the cusp of a healthcare revolution .

The UKM Health Technopolis is poised to lead the way in digital health and ensure that the benefits of these advancements reach every corner of the nation . – The HEALTH