In the first of a three-part series discussing the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the healthcare sector, we speak to scientists at Qatar Computing Research Institute, part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, about this topic.

In what ways is AI used, or could be used, to enhance healthcare in Qatar?   

Dr. Mohamad Saad: AI has several potential applications that are being used or can be used in healthcare in Qatar. Areas where AI can play an important role include electronic health records (EHR), imaging and radiology, wearables, and genomics. With the availability of large amounts of EHR data in Qatar, in a centralized system that encompasses Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), AI models can be developed to predict disease occurrence, severity, and prognosis. Such models help to improve prevention and treatment plans. For example, AI can help predict cardiovascular events using EHR data, which cannot be done by the medical practitioner alone given the large amount of data. Genomics is another important area where AI can also help healthcare in Qatar.