Pioneers in the medical industry will gather alongside high-level representatives from government and business in October for the inaugural Africa Health Indaba in Gauteng. The Indaba takes place during the annual Africa Health Congress and is an evolution of the Leaders Forum event that was previously hosted during this annual gathering.

Set to be inaugurated by Panyaza Lusufi, Premier of Gauteng province, the Indaba seeks to position Africa as a leader in medical innovation, spearheading global change. By focusing on the local production of drugs and machines, fostering resilient supply chains, and promoting local industry, the event signifies Africa's commitment to leading medical innovation in areas where it is most needed and where resources are often most stretched.

Related: Africa Health 2023 spotlights the evolving role of nursing

A core component of the Indaba's discussions is the imperative of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). UHC is a critical goal for health systems worldwide and holds particular significance for Africa. The Indaba will create a platform for dialogue and knowledge sharing about achieving UHC in the African context. It addresses the unique challenges and opportunities that Africa presents and delves into the practicalities of resource sharing and balancing costs to stakeholders across the continent.

“A key focus of the discussions will be the alignment with the vision and trajectory of the South African NHI, currently a contested issue. The Indaba will provide an important forum for understanding how Africa's healthcare future can reconcile with the NHI's objectives, fostering an integrated and equitable health system,” said Dr. Bandile Hadebe, spokesperson for the organisers of the event.

The Africa Health Indaba is more than a platform for dialogue and innovation. It serves as a roadmap for sustainable healthcare systems, universal health coverage, and fostering regional cohesion. The event aligns with the principles of medical science and evidence-driven decision-making, maintaining a non-partisan stance and focusing on global best practices.

Related: Africa Health 2023: Exploring African environmental ethics and Ubuntu

“The inaugural Africa Health Indaba is an elevated conversation at the heart of Africa's premier health industry summit. It offers an opportunity to network at the highest levels in the space of robust engagement featuring a balanced diversity of both technical and social perspectives, as well as inclusive stakeholder representation, including government, public, private and industry engagement,” added Dr. Hadebe.

Each discussion is formatted and structured to ensure efficient knowledge sharing at the highest level and will culminate in a set of guidelines that will be published and distributed among stakeholders, ensuring the ideas and strategies discussed at the Indaba translate into concrete, actionable plans.

Drawing on the latest trends and innovations from both international and transcontinental perspectives, the Indaba will serve as a hub for learning and exchange. This approach will help to position Africa at the forefront of healthcare innovation, leveraging global knowledge while tailoring solutions to local conditions and contexts.

The inaugural Africa Health Indaba is set to become an essential platform driving tangible change in Africa's healthcare landscape. It signifies a commitment to leading the way in medical innovation, thereby fostering a prosperous and resilient future for the continent. It takes place on Wednesday, 18 October, at Gallagher Estate in Gauteng as part of the annual Africa Health Congress.

Africa Health 2023 will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from October 17 to 19 October 2023, at the Gallagher Convention Centre. To register, click here.

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Technology has shown to be very valuable for the improvement of workflow, data management, customer experience, and overall processes in the healthcare industry. The ongoing digital transformation in the healthcare space has the potential to enhance patient care, improve operational efficiency, and drive innovation. However, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries lagged behind when it comes to implementing digital strategies. In fact, in a recent survey, only seven per cent of healthcare and pharmaceutical companies said they had gone digital, compared to 15 per cent of companies in other industries. This is despite the fact that the US healthcare market is enormous; with the national health spending projected to reach US$5.7 trillion by 2026. 

In an era where technology is being integrated into healthcare processes, one has to be equipped with a combination of visionary leadership, commitment to ethical practices, and the ability to harness technology to improve patient care and healthcare operations. Adapting to digital transformation is essential to deliver high-quality healthcare services as well. 

Related: Insurtech chatbots: Synergised digital solution for enhancing patient experience

With a view of the present and near future, successful leaders in the healthcare industry will be those who can navigate these challenges effectively while harnessing the power of technology to improve healthcare delivery. Working with the strategies below will be instrumental in leading an organisation in the healthcare space in the face of a digital transformation. 

Furthermore, cultivating a digital-first mindset involves fostering a culture within healthcare organisations that thrives on innovation and adaptability. Encouraging staff not only to embrace new technologies but also to actively seek opportunities to enhance patient care and streamline operations through digital solutions is pivotal. 

To navigate the complexities of digital transformation successfully, healthcare leaders must chart a clear digital course. This vision entails crafting a comprehensive digital strategy complete with precise objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) that illuminate the path of the organisation's digital journey. Effective communication of this vision to all stakeholders is equally vital, as alignment and unwavering commitment throughout the organisation are fundamental to success. 

The trust of patients and adherence to stringent regulations pivot on meticulous data governance. Prioritising robust data governance, which encompasses the assurance of data quality, security, and privacy, is non-negotiable. Simultaneously, the implementation of reliable data management systems and adherence to protocols becomes paramount for collecting, storing, and effectively analysing healthcare data.  

The sanctity of patient data and compliance with healthcare regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), hinge heavily on prioritising cybersecurity. This necessitates a vigilant approach comprising routine security assessments, comprehensive employee training, and rigorous audits to detect and mitigate vulnerabilities effectively. 

Related: Can data science unlock seamless workflows for physicians?

Exploration of the potential of AI and machine learning in healthcare is a pivotal aspect of leadership. These technologies can significantly bolster clinical decision support, predictive analytics, and healthcare outcomes. However, ethical use and responsible deployment are paramount to maintain patient trust and safety. 

Championing patients' rights within the digital healthcare panorama is indispensable. This advocacy underscores the significance of data privacy, and the imperative of affording patients control over their health information. 

Collaboration serves as a cornerstone of digital healthcare leadership. Engaging with technology companies, startups, research institutions, and other healthcare providers facilitates the collaboration of collective expertise and resources. The cultivation of strategic partnerships, enabling data sharing and fostering innovation, can yield substantial advancements. 

Finally, leadership in the digital transformation era necessitates the formulation of comprehensive, long-term strategic plans that accommodate future growth and evolving technology landscapes. Ensuring that digital solutions are scalable and adaptable to ever-changing healthcare needs becomes instrumental in ensuring sustained success. 

Embracing these strategies empowers healthcare leaders to navigate challenges and seize opportunities in this transformative era while upholding an unwavering commitment to patient care and ethical principles. 

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The 21st-century patient wants it all: a digital experience that provides swift access to healthcare solutions but with a human touch. Available 24/7, modern human-like chatbots are making automated self-service and conversational AI popular today for consumers. The demand from patients is growing, with expectations leaning towards synergised platforms that can be a one-stop shop that not only provides answers but also services. 

This is where an insurance chatbot steps in. It is a virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence that can serve insurance customers by customising their needs and facilitating communication with the insurance firm. 

When both solutions are looked at independently, a recent poll of healthcare practitioners found that 77 per cent of users believe chatbots will be able to treat patients within the next 10 years. The healthcare chatbot market is predicted to reach US$944.65 million by 2032 from US$230.28 million in 2023. Additionally, chatbots have helped firms cut US$8 billion in expenditures by 2022, according to a report in CNBC. 

Related: AI backed hyper personalisation fuels health insurtech’s future

On the other hand, insurtech is gaining momentum as dedicated start-ups are testing cutting-edge digital solutions to improve client experience, back-end operations, and everything in between. The global insurtech market size was valued at US$5.45 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 52.7 per cent from 2023 to 2030. 

When both solutions are synergised, it can lead to a more patient-centric healthcare experience, where individuals receive personalised medical guidance and insurance support seamlessly within a single platform. For example, Lemonade, a US-based artificial intelligence-powered insurance firm, has created a chatbot that guides policyholders through the entire customer journey. Users can use the bot to apply for policies, pay bills, process claims, and get progress updates without making a single phone call. Maya, Lemonade's chatbot, set a world record a few years ago by processing and settling a US$979 claim in under three seconds. 

Anushka Patchava, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Wellx, a Dubai-based insurtech platform that optimises wellness experiences built on insurance, tells us more about how the integration between chatbots and insurtech can optimise patient experience. 

Chatbots and insurtech: The perfect pairing? 

Along with natural language processing and generative AI models such as Med-PaLM2 (Google) and OpenAI's ChatGPT, chatbots have demonstrated their ability to provide medical advice by integrating multiple data and evidence sources and concisely assimilating the information, all while appearing human-like.  

“Initial tests have shown that these tools are more accurate than the standard 'Dr. Google' search that we have grown accustomed to. For instance, when used in initial claims assessment and insurance triage, it can significantly improve getting people to the right place at the right time and cost. This can help alleviate the workforce shortage and flow issues in clinics and hospitals. By guiding patients to primary care or digital care before secondary treatment, an integrated insurance and health chatbot, for example, can lower the needlessly high cost of care while also continuously evaluating fraud, waste, and abuse,” said Patchava. 

The role of insurtech chatbots in healthcare 

Insurance chatbots today are divided into two types: rule-based and AI-driven. Rule-based chatbots, which are based on pre-created processes, can provide clients with consistent responses based on a collection of commonly asked questions, with reportedly high effectiveness in resolving simple concerns. 

The development of AI-driven chatbots, on the other hand, opens new possibilities by facilitating underwriting help, customer service, fraud detection, and a variety of other operations.  

Related: Prevalence of insurtech in healthcare

“Insurance chatbot uses include simple claims processing and settlement. It can be used to report incidents, fill out forms, and track claim settlement; provide multi-language support without the need to hire this capability; and offer higher security by pre-populating fields through automated workflows so the employee does not have access to customer-sensitive data, only the chatbot does,” explained Patchava. 

Although such models are still in the early stages of research, they can be improved through repeated learning. Patchava concluded that whether they are accepted for widespread deployment in healthcare will depend on legislation and physician tolerance. 

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The biosimilar market in KSA is expanding and is expected to continue this trajectory in the coming decade. The growth of the market is influenced by the KSA health transformation initiative, the well-defined regulatory framework for biosimilars set by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), and the adoption of biosimilars by healthcare providers.

Related: Saudi Arabia marks healthcare transformation boom

Overall, biosimilar regulation is evolving, and the future of biosimilars looks promising in KSA. Biosimilars offer a more cost-effective alternative, which can help to expand access to more treatment options for patients and contribute to cost savings for the healthcare system.

Related: Advancements in CAR T-cell therapy and the need for strategic collaboration

A report by Taylor & Francis describes the current and future biosimilar landscape in KSA. It discusses the growth of the biosimilar market, the regulatory approval process, biosimilar adoption, and the potential impact on healthcare systems and patient outcomes.

Article highlights

• The healthcare transformation in KSA is a key driver to promote acceptability and adaptability to use biosimilars in clinical practice.
• Biosimilars are a promising strategy to reduce the increasing trend in pharmaceutical expenditure in KSA.
• The SFDA biosimilar regulations are aligned with those in highly regulated regions with approvals based on regulatory reliance and independent scientific assessment.
• There are 38 SFDA-approved biosimilars, with the number expected to rise in the near future to satisfy the high demand for cost-efficient therapies.
• Biosimilar regulation in KSA is evolving and maturing in the evaluation and monitoring of the safety, efficacy, and quality of products entering the market.
• The SFDA has created regulatory incentives to improve the accessibility and availability of affordable alternatives for cost-efficient therapies.

To learn more, download the report here

To learn more about the latest developments in Saudi Arabia's healthcare industry, attend the Global Health Exhibition taking place from 29-31 October at Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC). Click here to know more.

Also, join industry experts in learning more about the latest trends in Saudi Arabia's healthcare industry by registering for the webinar "How innovation and tech are fuelling investment in Saudi Arabia's healthcare market."

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As we move towards COP28, which will look at healthcare as part of its focus on sustainability, it is important to take stock of the challenge the world faces in providing healthcare services to a growing global population. Indeed, up to 3.5 billion people — almost half the world’s population — lack access to the healthcare services they need, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).  

The causes of this uneven distribution of healthcare services are complex and multifaceted, and addressing it will involve herculean efforts from governments, research organisations, and the public and private sectors. No matter how daunting this task might appear, I am hugely optimistic about the role of AI, which, I believe, will be key to improving access to healthcare in traditionally underserved communities. 

Related: AI-powered growth in healthcare: early trends and learnings

As a Machine Learning specialist dedicated to applying AI to problems in medical image analysis, I previously worked with a team of researchers to develop a solution to help healthcare professionals assess foetal growth at a speed and accuracy that would not otherwise be possible. 

At MBZUAI, we are in the early stages of research into how machine learning can be used to detect cardiovascular issues in CT scans and even predict complications that could arise in the future. To this end, we are working on a large study in collaboration with the University of Oxford to find biomarkers that could predict possible heart problems before they manifest themselves through more recognisable symptoms. The team at Oxford has already obtained 150,000 patients with CT scans and long-term prospective outcomes from around the world. We will then teach the AI system to detect the difference between healthy cardiovascular systems and those with — or likely to develop — issues. 

This large Oxford CT scan study is exciting, but I also want to take it further and ensure that similar transformative technology reaches people in developing countries and remote areas, where problems such as cardiovascular disease and foetal abnormalities often go undetected – frequently with devastating consequences. But expanding the solution in this way would present some unique challenges, including how to perform scans on people without access to a modern clinic or hospital. This is where new technologies, in the form of handheld ultrasound devices, and the ability to push AI to the edge of the network, hold the potential to save countless lives. 

Along with my team of researchers at MBZUAI, we are working on how to use ultrasound scans for predictive diagnosis. The potential benefits of combining portable ultrasound scanners with AI in developing countries are amplified because it could enable medical professionals to scan patients’ hearts and monitor the AI system’s interpretation of these scans. This newfound information could highlight serious problems that need further attention.  

It is worth highlighting that the AI component of this medical treatment does not supplant the human clinician, rather it helps by doing the heavy lifting of interpreting scans and flagging those that need attention. In many parts of the world, this service could give millions of people their first access to reliable cardiovascular checks. 

The same principle applies to assessing foetal growth and detecting abnormalities. We plan to conduct research aimed at using portable ultrasound scanners to perform the type of ‘anomaly scan’ that is standard in developed countries but performed on a much smaller scale in less developed regions and can be considered rare in villages in much of Africa and Southeast Asia. Just as with cardiovascular scans, we will need to teach the AI system to learn how to assess the growth of a foetus and flag the ones that need further attention. The beauty of such a system is that it could be delivered to smaller clinics by nurses or midwives.  

Related: The future of UAE healthcare is preventive, predictive, and precision-led

These scans are hugely important because when anomalies such as congenital heart defects or spina bifida are detected early, they can be treated in utero or soon after birth. Moreover, the use of AI to detect anomalies has the potential to reduce the time taken to assess each scan from a mean average of between 40 minutes and one hour to just 10 to 20 minutes. 

All of this remains at a very early stage, but working alongside my gifted team at MBZUAI, I am optimistic that we can play our part in improving healthcare for millions of people who are currently underserved.  

As the American writer William Gibson said: “The future is already here, it’s just not evenly distributed yet.” At MBZUAI, we are determined to bring the blessings of science – and particularly AI – to people in all parts of the world. 

Mohammad Yaqub is an Associate Professor in Computer Vision, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). 

References available upon request. 

 

Access the must-read eBook on AI here to discover perspectives on its transformative role in the healthcare industry.

Back to Technology

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will introduce the Elite Programme, a new, innovative way to attract citizens to take up jobs in various sectors and specialisations of the DHA. The initiative supports the Emiratisation policy implemented by the Authority.

The innovative method aims to provide citizens with training opportunities at the DHA across specialised and advanced programmes to develop their personal, scientific, and professional skills and capabilities. They will then gain experience and gradually take on additional roles, tasks, and responsibilities for one year. Those who prove their competence during the training period will be appointed based on their progress.

Related: Dubai Health Authority discusses Dubai Digital Health Strategy with healthcare stakeholders

Ahmed Al Nuaimi, CEO of Joint Corporate Support Services at the DHA, said that the DHA aims to increase Emiratisation rates and attract more national talents across specialised jobs.

He added that this unique initiative aims to create a competitive atmosphere for citizens to fill roles.

Related: Dubai Health Authority launches initiative to enhance legal awareness of healthcare professionals

Al Nuaimi highlighted that the Elite Programme includes a package of benefits and incentives. Trainees will receive financial rewards on a monthly basis, along with the opportunity to be trained and gain hands-on experience in tasks and responsibilities necessary for the industry.

Regarding the implementation of the programme, Noura Al Midfa, Director of the Human Resources Department at the DHA, stated that the program will be launched shortly, and Emiratis interested in applying can do so through the Dubai Careers website.

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Accuracy is key to the credibility of scientific research, so when researchers notice inaccuracies, they may report them. Websites such as PubPeer and Retraction Watch document ongoing investigations into allegedly fraudulent content and consequential retractions. However, when we look deeper into the issue, retractions due to fraud are actually very rare, often it is a simple case of an honest mistake. Dr. Dror Kolodkin Gal, Founder of automated image integrity software developer Proofiger, explains how image integrity mistakes can happen and offers tips on how to prevent them. 

Retractions play an important role in protecting the integrity of the scientific literature, by removing incorrect data that could negatively impact future research. The numbers are on the rise — according to Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch, rates have increased from around 45 per month in 2010, to 300 a month in 2021. Oransky also estimates that one in 50 papers today would meet at least one of the criteria for retraction from the Committee on Publication Ethics. 

Micrsocopy images with issues highlighted

Scientific authors are rationally fearful of being accused of fraud, as investigations and retractions can be severely damaging to their reputation. However, when we look closer into the investigations, retractions due to fraud are actually very rare. This was evidenced during a trial that ran from January 2021 to May 2022, where the AACR used Proofig to screen 1,367 papers accepted for publication. Of those, 208 papers required author contact to clear up issues such as mistaken duplications, and only four papers were withdrawn. In almost all cases (204 cases), there was no evidence of intentional image manipulation. It was simply an honest mistake. 

Related: Addressing the gaps in health sciences education

This reframes the conversation entirely. Instead of being conscious post-publication that accusations might be made about the validity of their research, researchers can focus on eliminating human error pre-publication. For example, checking for unintentional image integrity issues before submitting for peer review. So, what are the most common errors, and how can they be avoided? 

Avoiding duplications 

Duplications are the most common form of unintentional image issue, and they are often introduced during experimentation. For example, when looking at a sample under the microscope, researchers may want an image of the entire specimen to use in research. Depending on the magnification the researcher must move the microscope from left to right and up and down to document every section of the slide. Unfortunately, the microscope will not tell the researcher if there are overlaps when they capture images. Additionally, when the researcher changes the magnification, they may accidentally capture the same part of the sample twice. 

Organising data 

Researchers often use images to convey scientific results in a compelling way, so during experiments, they may capture thousands of images before choosing the best images to include in the manuscript. To keep track of their images, researchers will often label the files with descriptions of the sample. For example, if a researcher were conducting the efficacy of a treatment on a pancreas they may label a file with the name of the organ, magnification, the date, slide number, and if this sample is before or after treatment.  

Related: Taking medical education to the next level with personalisation

Filling in this data every time an image is captured can be time-consuming, so researchers may opt to copy the last name entry and just change a few of the details. While this enables researchers to file their images more quickly, it can lead to unintentional mistakes. Forgetting to change something or inputting an incorrect number could lead to file name duplications or errors. When the researcher comes to include images in their paper, they might not be aware of the error and unintentionally include these duplications. 

Avoiding mistakes 

We all know that mistakes happen — the important thing is that researchers resolve these mistakes before publication. They may be unintentional, but if peers in the scientific community report these types of image integrity issues in published content, the journal will investigate.

After this investigation, a researcher may need to resolve the issue, but the investigation itself can cause lasting reputational damage, regardless of the outcome. 

Researchers can reduce the risk of image integrity issues by proactively checking their images before submitting them for publication. Automated software, such as Proofig, uses AI to detect all the sub-images in a paper. It compares the images against one another, producing a report about different forms of duplication in minutes. Researchers then have the opportunity to resolve any anomalies before submitting their paper. 

Picture illustrating a duplication

Reports on investigations suggest that retractions are on the rise, but when we look more closely at the outcomes of those investigations, many of these issues are honest mistakes. By increasing awareness of how these mistakes can happen, as well as providing tools that researchers can use to proactively detect and resolve image integrity issues, the scientific research community can reduce the risk of investigations that result in costs to both their finances and their reputation.  

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