Highlights
- •Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to have profound impact on the healthcare sector in ways ranging from clinical decision making to public health, biomedical research, and system governance and administration.
- •Routine application of AI in the healthcare sector is currently nascent, with most uses still in the experimental or research phase. Moreover, developing and implementing AI tools to be used at scale are beset with risks to safety, efficiency, and equity.
- •Specific policy, governance, and regulatory frameworks are needed to manage these risks and ensure that AI can contribute to better healthcare outcomes.
Abstract
Objectives
This study aimed to showcase the potential and key concerns and risks of artificial
intelligence (AI) in the health sector, illustrating its application with current
examples, and to provide policy guidance for the development, assessment, and adoption
of AI technologies to advance policy objectives.
Methods
Nonsystematic scan and analysis of peer-reviewed and gray literature on AI in the
health sector, focusing on key insights for policy and governance.
Results
The application of AI in the health sector is currently in the early stages. Most
applications have not been scaled beyond the research setting. The use in real-world
clinical settings is especially nascent, with more evidence in public health, biomedical
research, and “back office” administration. Deploying AI in the health sector carries
risks and hazards that must be managed proactively by policy makers. For AI to produce
positive health and policy outcomes, 5 key areas for policy are proposed, including
health data governance, operationalizing AI principles, flexible regulation, skills
among health workers and patients, and strategic public investment.
Conclusions
AI is not a panacea, but a tool to address specific problems. Its successful development
and adoption require data governance that ensures high-quality data are available
and secure; relevant actors can access technical infrastructure and resources; regulatory
frameworks promote trustworthy AI products; and health workers and patients have the
information and skills to use AI products and services safely, effectively, and efficiently.
All of this requires considerable investment and international collaboration.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 13, 2022
Accepted:
November 23,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc.
