The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising healthcare access and equity.
For those who don’t have medical aid and have limited access to healthcare facilities, AI could be a game-changer, says Jane Ward, the deputy director of the South African Bone Marrow Registry.
AI’s role in speeding up turnaround times in stem cell donor matching and transplantation is being investigated by stem cell registries worldwide.
This could transform the registries’ work, as it’s often a race against time to find a matching donor for a patient awaiting a stem cell transplant, says Ward.
“Embracing this technology could reshape our industry. Not only will it speed up the search and match process, but it will also free up staff to spend one-on-one time with patients and their loved ones.
“AI’s ability to quickly analyse vast amounts of genetic data streamlines the identification of compatible donors, drastically shortening the timeline and offering a faster, more efficient route for patients in urgent need of stem cell transplants,” she adds.
According to Ward, the successful use of AI in the healthcare space has already been proven with the speedy production of Covid-19 vaccines, which would have otherwise taken years to achieve.
She says the use of AI has the potential to improve health outcomes, as people can receive a timely diagnosis and treatment.
“It is especially critical for those with life-threatening conditions, such as leukaemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, aplastic anaemia, sickle cell disease, thalassemia and other blood disorders, where time is often a decisive factor in treatment success. This advancement is not just enhancing healthcare accessibility, but also democratising healthcare services, ensuring that no one is left behind.”
Ward is, however, cognisant that technology can never replace the human touch.
“AI has massive potential; however, registries remain a ‘people business’. While it is an exciting time for us, there is still a way to go before it’s fully implemented. There are challenges in the form of ethics, regulation and responsibility, and we need to get the basics right first,” says Ward.
She explains that there are several hurdles to overcome before AI systems are fully integrated across registries worldwide.
Some of the key challenges include:
- Using the right data: Only 4% of data is considered AI-ready as many organisations still use paper and not all data is digitised.
- Ethics: The responsible use of AI, intellectual property regulation and accountability.
- The correct interaction: Using the correct prompting methods for best results.
- Cultural change: Adapting to change and being ready to experiment.
- The cost of AI: Software development is expensive, and registries are often not government funded.
AI is the way of the future, and it is a big risk not to move with the times, says Ward.
“If this means that we can better serve our patients and find matches more easily, then there is no question that this technology is needed. Our mission and vision have and always will be to give our patients the best care and the second chance at life that they so deserve.”
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