AI and Its Potential to Revolutionize Health Systems Worldwide

It is already a reality that artificial intelligence is revolutionizing healthcare, disease management, patient care, and medical practices worldwide. By 2025, global AI investments are estimated to reach nearly US$36 billion. 

In combination with telemedicine, artificial intelligence can play an important role in optimizing and strengthening the health system. 

Lack of access to healthcare is one of the major global issues. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank published a report in 2017 where it is mentioned that 50% of the population does not have access to health services, added to the increase in chronic diseases and aging populations. 

In Latin America, for example, people are aging at an accelerated rate. United Nations’ estimates project that the population over the age of 60 in the region will increase from 11% to 25% in a span of 35 years. This means that there will be more patients with chronic diseases that will require medical care and clinical follow-up in the long run. 

The WHO highlights that 75% of the deaths in the region can be attributed to chronic diseases, an increase of almost 20 percentage points compared to the 1990 data. 

In addition, the shortage of the entire spectrum of medicines is also one of the daily problems faced by consumers. 

To help promote a better health system through the use of technological tools that optimize the availability of various products, such as over-the-counter medicines, GS1 Mexico has the Desabasto Cero platform, which uses AI and machine learning to provide retail chains and manufacturers with strategic information that helps improve decision-making and identify sufficiency problems of all types of products, including food, beverages and even OTC medicines, and thus improve the experience of consumers.

With the support of AI, Desabasto Cero becomes a reliable platform, standardized and fed in real time with sales data from retailers, in terms of value and units, inventory, and all the logistical information of each product. 

Considering that artificial intelligence is applied in three categories – 1) algorithmic solutions; 2) image processing; and 3) tools to support medical practice – the use of AI in the analysis of data on diseases that affect the population could predict the incidence of diseases in the future and thus plan the demand for treatments in advance.

Thanks to the support of AI, the factors that promote the shortage of health products at the point-of-sale could be reduced, benefiting the entire healthcare ecosystem: manufacturers, distributors, and mainly patients. 

We can add other AI advantages to the field of digital health:

• More accurate diagnosis by quickly analyzing large volumes of data and detecting patterns that may be difficult for a human to perceive. This can lead to screenings with a high degree of accuracy and speed, especially in areas such as radiology.

• Personalization of treatment, with the ability to process and analyze large databases, in order to adapt them to the specific needs and characteristics of each patient.

• Optimization of resources, because this technology is able to predict the response to treatment, which allows a more efficient allocation of resources in hospitals and clinics.

• Remote Healthcare. Accompanied by telemedicine, AI can offer more efficient consultations, monitor patients remotely, provide diagnostics, treatments, and follow-up.

• Research and development in the healthcare sector, where AI has already helped accelerate therapy development and clinical research, by rapidly analyzing vast amounts of data.

AI offers numerous opportunities to improve healthcare in Mexico on different fronts, but it also presents challenges for its consolidation.

It must be taken into account that the progress and developments made in the field of health with the use of AI must be in accordance with the six guiding principles dictated by the World Health Organization:

• Preserve human autonomy.

• Promote the welfare and safety of individuals and the public interest.

• Ensure transparency, clarity and intelligibility.

• Promote accountability and responsibility. 

• Ensure inclusivity and equity. 

• Promote a responsive and sustainable AI.

From our organization, we manage public-private partnerships to advance a joint agenda focused on the creation of a digital health model that allows the transformation of our health system focused on people: democratic, equitable, and with access to the best care and therapies required in a timely manner.

Today, all actors in the healthcare ecosystem are at a pivotal moment. We must make momentous decisions to assume the role we want to play in the future. It is imperative that we understand how the different developments, solutions and technologies must be combined within this process for the benefit of our country and all Mexicans.