Prof. Dr. Haytham Eloqayli

Sometimes I imagine myself as a government official, facing a critical question to which I cannot find an answer. The question is: After recent studies have shown that AI algorithms have outperformed human doctors in the accuracy and volume of radiology reports—and even added the ability to predict certain diseases—what happens when we reach a stage where, instead of needing twenty doctors in a specific field, we only need one with AI support? Meanwhile, there are at least 100 doctors in the job market, hoping for 20–40 to be hired in that department. How can a policymaker who wants to promote progress and innovation on the one hand, and satisfy citizens on the other, find a balance or a viable solution?

It seems that AI is leading a transformational revolution in healthcare. I will briefly outline its impact to help my fellow clinicians, especially given the natural resistance to change—particularly when it threatens many of our professional privileges.

1.Healthcare Administration: AI enhances efficiency by optimizing resource management, supply chains, insurance processes, and coding systems, while reducing human errors and promoting automation.

2.Scientific Research: AI can predict diseases and develop personalized treatment plans, placing the patient at the center of care.

3.Diagnosis: Significant advances have been made in radiology, lab testing, and remote EEG monitoring for epilepsy. AI is also being integrated into sleep studies for sleep apnea and cardiac diagnostics.

4.Virtual Clinics: Their effectiveness in our society remains uncertain, as people here tend to trust only specialist doctors, making it difficult to accept virtual or automated physicians.

5.Surgical Field: Though still limited, robotic surgery has proven effective in enhancing precision, reducing complications, and operating in narrow areas difficult for human hands. However, it’s still an aid rather than a replacement for surgeons, and the preparation time and costs remain higher.

6.Emotional and Psychological Aspects: The human connection between doctor and patient is absent in AI. Moreover, the patient’s psychological state—such as stress, anxiety, and social pressures—often plays a role in symptoms and treatment response, which AI cannot yet fully grasp.

7.Additional Applications: Upcoming AI tools may reduce the numerical need for doctors in some fields while supporting them in others—especially those requiring non-linear, creative analysis (the essence of AI) combined with a physician’s personal expertise and scientific knowledge.

What I want to emphasize is that AI is a real and present challenge. If we fail to implement and benefit from it, others will surpass us. Yet, it also creates a dilemma for decision-makers, as it reduces available jobs and creates social pressure on policymakers.

In the next article, I will discuss how AI functions in medicine through data analysis and pattern-recognition algorithms—some of which detect hidden patterns beyond human capability (such as disease prediction and patient-specific treatment plans). I will also explore predictive models and clinical applications, particularly in the context of machine learning—which improves accuracy—and deep learning—which enhances the performance of these algorithms.