Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made its way into all walks of life, and healthcare is no exception. Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) NABIDH system is pioneering a future where healthcare leverages AI to streamline processes, improve care delivery, enhance patient health outcomes, and power data-driven medical decisions. However, the role of AI in healthcare needs to be regulated and clearly articulated to ensure optimal application. And this is what NABIDH’s Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Policy tries to achieve. This policy outlines the much-needed framework for ethical and responsible deployment and use of AI in DHA’s NABIDH platform.

NABIDH: The Ideal Foundation for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

NABIDH (National Backbone for Integrated Dubai Health), DHA’s health information exchange platform acts as a foundation for implementing AI in Dubai’s healthcare. It provides a secure, centralized repository for health data that facilitates the development and application of AI within a framework of strict policies and security standards. It:

Enables access to de-identified health data that can help train and validate AI algorithms to make them relevant and effective for the emirate’s population.
Provides real-world data that AI solutions can use to provide real-time support, personalized care, and public health monitoring.
Facilitates continuous monitoring and evaluation of the performance of AI solutions in ensuring safety, efficacy, and compliance with ethical guidelines.

NABIDH Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Policy: An Overview

This policy establishes the ethical guidelines and regulations governing the use of AI in Dubai’s healthcare sector.

Purpose and Scope of NABIDH Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Policy

NABIDH Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Policy is has a clear purpose. It sets the rules for how AI can be used in Dubai’s Healthcare, by:

Setting clear regulatory and ethical guidelines for AI use in NABIDH
Describing Dubai’s broader vision for AI in healthcare, and applying AI for the improvement of healthcare
Identifying the roles and responsibilities for the development and use of AI solutions in healthcare.

The scope of NABIDH Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Policy encompasses all AI solutions related to healthcare services that utilize NABIDH data. This policy is applicable to all AI technology users in healthcare, within the Dubai Health Authority’s area of control, including:

Hospitals, clinics, doctors, and all other types of dhA-licenced healthcare providers
Pharmaceutical companies
Health insurers
Public health organizations handling and utilizing health data for different purposes
Healthcare researchers

Features of the NABIDH Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Policy

NABIDH’s AI in Healthcare Policy emphasizes on the need to maintain patient privacy above all else. It recommends prioritizing the safety and well-being of individuals, and taking a patient-centric approach. The policy acknowledges the potential of AI in diagnostics, treatment planning, and disease prediction, while recognizing the need for careful regulation of AI in healthcare to mitigate risks. Here are the key recommendations of the policy:

Access to Healthcare

AI solutions must incorporate fairness, transparency, and accountability. AI algorithms must avoid bias to ensure equitable access to healthcare.

Confidentiality and Security

AI applications and solutions must strictly adhere to international, federal, and local data protection laws, and handle patient health data with confidentiality and security.

Approvals

All AI solutions must meet DHA’s regulatory requirements, and obtain necessary approvals and licenses before deployment.

AI as a Tool

Even though several tasks may be automated using AI, the role of human healthcare professionals must remain crucial. AI can be a tool for healthcare providers, but cannot replace them.

Collaboration

Healthcare providers, technology companies, and research institutions should collaborate to foster innovation and accelerate the development of AI solutions.

Validating Reliability

All AI solutions must be validated independently by a third party before being deployed in NABIDH. This is essential to ensure safety and reliability and minimize risks.

Professional Supervision

It is mandatory for healthcare professionals to supervise and monitor the use of AI technology. This is necessary to maintain balanced use of automation and professional judgement.

Risk Mitigation

It is essential to employ robust risk management strategies to identify and mitigate potential risks in the use of AI solutions. This includes addressing issues such as algorithmic bias, data breaches, and other unintended consequences.

Monitoring and Improvement

AI solutions must be monitored throughout their lifecycle to ensure safe and effective use. They should be updated and improved to meet evolving healthcare needs and ethical considerations. This is essential to maintain their effectiveness and integrity over time.

Roles and Responsibilities Defined by NABIDH AI in Healthcare Policy

Developers must design, develop, and validate AI solutions in compliance with the guidelines, ethical principles, data privacy regulations, and technical standards established by DHA and NABIDH.
Healthcare providers must ensure proper implementation, supervision, and monitoring of AI solutions in practice. They should prioritize patient safety and ethical standards over all other considerations.

DHA and NABIDH must oversee the development and deployment of AI solutions, enforce the appropriate regulations, and ensure compliance with all established standards.

NABIDH Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Policy provides a concrete framework for optimizing the use of AI to improve healthcare delivery. With the right standards and guidelines in place, it paves the way for a future where an AI-powered NABIDH system empowers healthcare professionals to provide more personalized, efficient, and effective care.