The 52nd episode of The Health Wrap by The Hindu examines the growing use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, including its potential applications in drug and vaccine development, medical imaging and clinical decision-making.
Ramya Kannan, Health Editor, The Hindu, speaks to Abdul Gaffur, infectious diseases expert, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, about the opportunities and limitations of AI in healthcare and the questions its growing use raises for patients and healthcare professionals.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being explored across healthcare and medical research. The episode discusses how AI could help researchers identify potential drug candidates, analyse large volumes of information and accelerate some stages of medical research.
The conversation also looks at the possible use of AI in vaccine development and other areas of biomedical research. While these applications could support research, the discussion examines the need to consider the limitations of AI-generated outputs and the importance of scientific and clinical validation.
A key focus of the episode is the use of AI for health-related information. AI systems can produce answers that appear confident and authoritative but may contain incorrect information. The episode discusses why patients should be cautious about relying on AI-generated responses for medical advice and why such information needs to be assessed against reliable medical sources and professional advice.
The discussion also examines the use of AI in clinical care. AI-powered clinical intelligence could potentially bring together information from radiology, laboratory investigations, pharmacy records and medical records to support doctors in screening and triaging patients.
The episode looks at how such systems could assist healthcare professionals without replacing clinical assessment. It also considers the importance of understanding the limitations of AI when it is used in decisions that can affect patient care.
Data is another aspect of the discussion, particularly as healthcare AI systems may involve large amounts of medical information. The episode considers questions around the use of health data and the need for appropriate safeguards as AI becomes more integrated into healthcare.
The conversation also touches on the potential misuse of AI in biology and why advances in artificial intelligence need to be considered alongside questions of safety and responsible use.
The discussion focuses on both the potential applications of AI in healthcare and the limitations that need to be considered as these technologies are increasingly used in research, clinical settings and the communication of health information.
The episode can also be viewed on The Hindu health page along with the full playlist of The Health Wrap
