TEHRAN – The Ministry of Health has developed eight projects focused on smart e-health using artificial intelligence to realize the goals of health system transformation.
Projects include improving health literacy and self-care, designing a smart referral system, launching a national health observatory, converting health data into operational knowledge, leveraging AI to manage the medical supply chain for ancillary medicines, establishing a diagnostic related group (DRG) payment system, designing smart hospitals with high productivity, and integrating online insurance processes, IRNA reported, citing Ministry of Health official Ali Jafarian.
The official made the remarks while speaking at an event on smart e-health systems titled ‘AI in Healthcare’.
The official emphasized the importance of leveraging AI to improve the speed, accuracy and quality of medical services, saying AI can alleviate the shortage of human resources in the medical field, reduce errors in diagnosis and treatment, and contribute to the efficient use of big data.
He elaborated on the wide range of applications of AI in the health sector, including predicting pandemic outbreaks, preventing health problems using AI wearables, and providing personalized care as personal smart assistants.
The official highlighted the widespread use of AI in diagnosis and treatment, saying that AI is increasing the speed and accuracy of diagnosis in pathology and radiology. In the future, AI will also personalize treatment plans based on individual patient characteristics.
Jafarian also highlighted the potential of AI in improving public health, including increasing public health awareness using self-care AI applications, launching health monitoring institutes that use AI-powered systems to predict disease outbreaks, designing smart referral systems, developing smart hospitals, and efficient insurance systems.
Smart healthcare systems are essential
In August, Health Minister Mohammad Reza Zafarkandi highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence (AI), telemedicine and mobile health in managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
IRNA quoted Zafarkandi as saying that developing smart health systems and raising public awareness through preventive education and promoting health literacy are key points for the future of the health system. He added that as the introduction of modern technology is inevitable, these tools can be used to reduce costs and ease access to services.
The official made the remarks while addressing the first meeting of the National Committee for the Prevention and Control of NCDs.
People’s health is not just about medical care. He noted that health literacy and education also play an important role in improving the health of society.
Emphasizing the importance of education and self-care, Zafarkandi said increasing public awareness of the main symptoms of the disease can lead to early detection, which in turn can reduce treatment costs and increase success rates.
The official also stressed the need to develop a national operational program that can be implemented in each state, as well as holding workshops to implement screening programs for hypertension, diabetes and blood lipids.
NCDs account for 82 percent of all deaths in Iran. Over the past 20 years, deaths from NCDs have increased by 14.5%.
Cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and mental illnesses are the five main categories of NCDs.
Early screening for non-communicable diseases and risk factor management are two ways to combat this disease.
MT/MG