Embrace AI for affordable healthcare, SADC urged Artificial intelligence

Leonard Ncube, [email protected]

HEALTH sector experts are calling on policymakers and service providers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a crucial tool for improving access to affordable primary healthcare. 

Speaking at the Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) Healthcare Innovation Workshop in Victoria Falls yesterday, regional health industry leaders highlighted the potential of AI to reduce healthcare costs, decrease re-admissions, and introduce new research and innovations.

Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe

The workshop, which served as a precursor to the 15th edition of the AHFoZ Annual Conference, was attended by various stakeholders in the health sector. 

The conference, under the theme “Zooming in on Health Outcomes – Making the Main Thing the Main Thing,” officially begins today with Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, expected to be the guest of honour. The event will conclude on Saturday. 

While AI is gradually making its way into the healthcare industry, its adoption remains limited in many countries, including Zimbabwe. 

During his presentation on AI-driven health concierge services, Mr Chanwyn Williams, lead data scientist at MedScheme Afrocentric Group in South Africa, emphasised the importance of leveraging technology to enhance fundamental health systems. 

He said AI initially leads to an increase in cost of doing business but has long time benefits.

“We have observed that AI can sustainably reduce healthcare costs. The initial set-up costs can be shared among stakeholders if there is collective acceptance of AI,” said Mr Williams. 

Dr Shay Ganesh, chief medical officer at PPS Healthcare Administrators in South Africa, shared insights into how an AI re-admission prevention tool developed in South Africa significantly reduced hospital re-admissions and healthcare costs.

“South Africa and I guess with here in Zimbabwe too, has high admission and re-admission rates. Our AI tool identifies patients at risk of re-admission, helping them receive necessary care and reducing unnecessary hospital returns,” Dr Ganesh explained.

“Globally, AI has reduced re-admissions by 50 to 70 percent and in South Africa, we saw a 30 percent reduction over three months during a pilot programme.” 

However, Dr Ganesh noted that there is still scepticism surrounding the use of AI in the healthcare sector.

Dr Vuyo Gqola, chief healthcare officer for the Government Employees Medical Scheme in South Africa, highlighted AI’s potential to enhance primary healthcare access for ordinary citizens. 

This aligns with the Government’s Universal Access to Health initiative, aimed at making primary health services more accessible and affordable.

“We use AI to identify people that are high risk making sure there are adequate interventions. AI helps measure cost and outcomes, bringing affordable ways and innovative designs which is cost effective.

“We have to focus back on primary healthcare where people should use general practitioners, nurses as a first point of call. If we focus on prevention at primary healthcare we can keep pandemics and diseases under check, so we need to find innovative ways of cost effective healthcare,” she said.

Speaking earlier, AHFoZ chief executive officer, Mrs Shylet Sanyanga emphasised the workshop’s importance as a platform for the health sector to collaboratively plan for the future. — @ncubeleon

 

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