Exploring The Impact of AI in Disease Detection and Analyzing the Landscape of Health Infrastructure in Pakistan

Abstract

This research takes a unique approach by exploring Pakistan's hospitals' current readiness and capacities to inform critical recommendations for policy measures regarding AI in healthcare. Using a qualitative methodology, it delves into the perceptions, attitudes, and impacts—positive and negative—of artificial intelligence in health. The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of adoption of technology in the healthcare sector. Additionally, through a systematic review of existing literature on AI in healthcare, the research was able to supplement the primary data and provide a broader context on the accuracy and reliability of artificial intelligence for the detection of Tuberculosis and Oral Cancer. This research has identified key stakeholder groups, the individuals from these groups are interviewed through purposive sampling, with doctors, hospital management from Shifa International Hospital and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, medical students, AI experts, and policymakers from the Ministry of Information Technology and Ministry of Planning Development & Special Initiatives. The data collected from these interviews is subjected to thematic analysis and stakeholder analysis, offering an in-depth understanding of the interests and needs of various stakeholders. The findings highlight significant gaps in the public hospital infrastructure, as well as the specific needs of doctors and hospital staff in public and private hospitals, and lack of knowledge of utilizing technology for better healthcare needs stemming from medical education, ultimately providing critical insights for the development of an effective AI policy in Pakistan's healthcare system.