ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING IN HEALTHCARE DECISION-MAKING IN GULF COUNTRIES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SAUDI HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS

Abstract

As a result of the creation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies and the introduction of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) vision 2030 initiative, unprecedented interaction with medical decision-making is emerging in the healthcare systems of the GCC countries (and especially Saudi Arabia). All of these technologies will enhance diagnoses, personalize treatment, increase the efficiency of operations, and make the patients safer and provide an answer to some of the acute problems facing current healthcare in the region, including a high incidence of chronic disease, access to care is an issue in rural areas, medical practitioners are scarce (typically immigrants), and the cost of healthcare is rising at an alarming rate. Specifically, this white paper is an in-depth survey of the used AI and ML in the healthcare environment including diagnostics, personalized medicine, tele-medicine, and operational administration (management of resources). Limitations and challenges are also discussed in relation to gaps in regulatory approval procedures, inequality in digital literacy of health care personnel, cultural barriers, and ethical considerations. The examples of the region illustrate case studies of different varieties, quantitative data, expert opinions with the accent on the role of Saudi Arabia as a leader in the health care management and the intention of the GCC to promote the development of the healthcare systems in the region on a larger scale. The results of this review will help the policymakers, health care managers, researchers and technology developers with the pathway strategies of sustainable adoption of AI systems in the work of health care systems.