The Middle East is in a unique position to lead the development of international standards and become a hub for AI research and development, services firm PwC observed in its latest report
PwC’ healthcare transformation report ‘From Virtual to Reality: Six imperatives for becoming an AI-ready healthcare business’ draws on learning and examples from global and regional AI implementation across six areas of leadership and culture, workforce transformation, clinical effectiveness, commercial investment, public readiness and regulation, ethics and confidentiality.
The report examines main enablers and challenges for healthcare innovation and highlights the ways in which the industry adopts AI, both globally and across the Middle East. It also explores the necessary components to enable an AI-powered healthcare environment.
Hamish Clark, partner and Middle East Health Industries Consulting Leader at PwC, said, “AI has the potential to revolutionise every aspect of the healthcare sector, with digital transformation and AI at the forefront of regional government’s strategic plans and on the agenda of healthcare leaders in the GCC.”
“The economic benefits are clear and the technology is already here in our everyday lives. However, there is a significant implementation challenge which requires new skills and strong leadership. Disruption to traditional healthcare delivery models is happening at a pace now. Who will succeed in this digital age in the Middle East?” he added.
“In 2017, as part of What Doctor? report, we explored how willing people were to engage with AI for their healthcare needs and what might encourage them to broadly adopt such solutions. Our survey revealed there is not only an increasing willingness for AI integration across healthcare in the Middle East but that this willingness is comparably higher than in many other parts of the world,” he stated.
