Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert Prince Ebenezer Adjei says effective implementation of AI can revolutionize healthcare in low and middle income countries (LMICs) like Ghana.
He believes that the use of everyday smartphones is an inclusive strategy for incorporating artificial intelligence to support both healthcare workers and healthcare users.
“The future of healthcare in Ghana depends on the effective implementation of artificial intelligence.
“In developed countries, AI in healthcare often uses high-end technology, but in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Ghana, the approach is more hands-on and inclusive.
“AI applications are mostly built into mobile phones, leveraging the widespread use of mobile technology to reach a wider audience,” he said.
He said this during his presentation at this year’s Future of Healthcare Summit held under the theme ‘Digital Technology: A Major Enhancer for Healthcare Delivery’.
The conference, which took place in Accra, focused on discussions centered around the challenges and opportunities that come with the rise of remote care, the evolution of hospitals, healthcare disruption and the development of partnerships.
Prince Ebenezer Adjei is a biomedical engineer and artificial intelligence researcher specializing in healthcare applications.
He currently serves as a lecturer in the Biomedical Engineering program at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and an AI healthcare expert in the Global Health and Infectious Disease (GHID) group at the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine ( KCCR).
Prince explained that the impact of AI on healthcare professions cannot be ignored and requires a redefinition of traditional clinical roles and the integration of AI education into healthcare education.
However, he stressed that the process of integrating artificial intelligence into Ghanaian healthcare does not come without challenges.
“Issues of bias, fairness and accuracy are widespread concerns.
“To address these, Ghana needs to be actively involved in the development of AI, ensuring that the technology aligns with local healthcare needs and cultural contexts.
“This will require increased awareness among healthcare workers, robust data management systems and clear policies governing the use of AI in healthcare,” he said.
Prince revealed how various partners from the private sector, government and academia through research are taking steps towards this integration.
“In Ghana, this revolution is taking shape through the ‘AI4GH project’, an initiative funded by the International Development Research Center (IDRC) with a budget of CAD 15.5 million.
“The project, which focuses on Sexual and Maternal Reproductive Health (SMRH) and pandemic prevention, is coordinated by the Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research Group, KCCR, KNUST through a collaboration with the Global Health Network (TGHN), University of Oxford.
“This project marks an important step in ushering in a new era of healthcare delivery in Ghana,” he said.
He added, “KNUST’s Artificial Intelligence Responsible Laboratory (RAIL) dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence studies in collaboration with GHID-KCCR is undertaking a vital project with the radiology department at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi to improving stroke diagnosis using AI technologies; “
He further highlighted emerging innovative local solutions from the private sector such as ‘Intron Health’ designed to improve patient-doctor interactions by transcribing their conversations. and “minoHealthAI” that enhances the efficiency of medical image examination by facilitating higher patient throughput.
The Future of Healthcare 2023 summit had a mix of plenary sessions and panels, and interactive workshops alongside social events. This provided a unique opportunity for thought leadership, networking and business development.
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