In the fluid state of the modern technological revolution, it is difficult to predict exactly what role artificial intelligence (AI) will play in healthcare in 2023, as the field is constantly evolving and there are many potential applications for AI in healthcare. However, it is likely that AI will continue to play a significant role in various aspects of healthcare, including but not limited to the following:

• Clinical decision support: AI can be used to analyze large amounts of patient data and provide recommendations to healthcare providers, helping them to make more informed decisions about patient care including triggers for referral
• Diagnosis and treatment: AI algorithms can be trained to recognize patterns in medical images, such as X-rays and CT scans, and assist in the diagnosis of diseases. AI can also be used to identify potential treatment options and help doctors choose the most appropriate one for a given patient
• Drug development: AI can be used to analyze large amounts of data about potential new drugs, helping researchers to identify promising candidates for further development.
• Patient monitoring: AI can be used to monitor patients remotely, allowing healthcare providers to track their progress and intervene if necessary
• Health Intelligence: AI can be used effectively to analyse large data sets and look at disease trends along with predictive modelling to identify patterns
• Healthcare Administration: AI can be used to automate various administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments and managing electronic medical records, freeing up time for healthcare providers to focus on patient care. Resource reallocations can also be done dynamically based on workloads and predictive models

The role of AI in healthcare and how it is projected to materialize in the new year

Overall, it is likely that AI will continue to play a significant and growing role in healthcare in the coming years, helping to improve patient outcomes and streamline various aspects of healthcare delivery.

As per an update by FDA in Oct 2022, there are 521 approved AI/ML enabled Medical Devices, out of which 91 (approx 17%) were added in 2022. It is noteworthy that the first AI/ML-enabled device was approved in 1995 and we are now seeing an upsurge since 2018 contributing to 85% of approved devices. As per Dr Satish Jeevanar of AI Health Highway, we will see a 10x -100x rise in overall applications of AI/ML in healthcare in 2023 as more point of care screening, diagnostic devices will enter the market driven by changing trends post-Covid due to increased digital adoption by stakeholders in healthcare and with policy support from the Govt of India.

The role of data in 2023

Data is likely to play a significant role in healthcare in 2023 and beyond, as it can be used to inform decision-making, improve efficiency, and drive innovation across various aspects of healthcare delivery. Overall, data will play a central role in many aspects of healthcare in 2023, and it will be important for healthcare organizations to effectively collect, manage, and analyze data in order to drive improvements in patient care and outcomes.

By 2025, healthcare will most likely be the biggest contributor to the overall data generated by any industry. However, interoperability, data privacy, and data sovereignty are some of the biggest concerns which need to be addressed.

The role of firewalls in keeping data secure

We need transparent and trustworthy policies at all stages of the healthcare value chain. Patient privacy and consent need to be at the center of any solution built and/or integrated – there should be clear accountability and ownership. The systems should have clear traceability, audit, and multiple firewalls along with encryption and anonymity at each instance. The Government should enable crystal clear policies, and the implementation should NOT only be at the mercy of private players with vested interest. Instead, it must have a strong academia-industry-policy collaborative effort.

Healthcare data involves extensive personal information that requires to be kept secure with legitimate access and utilization permitted to both care providers and the patients themselves. Thus, best practices must be employed to secure this data, with a proactive stance.

There are several different types of firewalls that can be used to help in keeping healthcare data secured, including the following:

• Network firewalls: These firewalls are used to protect a network from unauthorized access and to control incoming and outgoing traffic
• Application firewalls: These firewalls are used to protect specific applications or servers from unauthorized access and attacks
• Host-based firewalls: These firewalls are installed on individual computers or devices and are used to protect them from unauthorized access and attacks

In addition to using firewalls, there are a number of best practices that can be followed to ensure that patients' data is secured and does not fall into the wrong hands. Some of these best practices include the following:

• Implementing strong passwords and regularly updating them: This can help to prevent unauthorized access to patients' data
• Ensuring that all devices and systems are regularly patched and updated: This can help to prevent vulnerabilities that could be exploited by cybercriminals
• Implementing access controls: This can help to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to patients' data
• Encrypting data: Encrypting data can help to protect it from being accessed by unauthorized individuals
• Regularly backing up data: Regularly backing up data can help to protect against data loss due to cyber-attacks or other disasters

Overall, it is important for the Government and for healthcare organizations to prioritize the security of patients' data and to implement as wide a range of comprehensive measures as is necessary, to protect it from unauthorized access.

Digital literacy among those handling data is the need of the hour

Digital literacy refers to an individual's ability to use, understand, and evaluate digital technologies and the information they produce.

In the healthcare system, those handling healthcare data may include healthcare providers, administrators, and IT professionals, among others. These individuals need to be equipped to use digital technologies effectively to access and manage patient data, communicate with patients and colleagues, and make informed decisions about patient care.

Digital literacy is particularly important in healthcare due to the sensitive nature of healthcare data and the need to protect patient privacy. Those handling healthcare data need to be aware of the various laws and regulations governing the use of healthcare data and be able to implement appropriate security measures to protect it.

Overall, digital literacy is an essential skill for those handling healthcare data, and it is important for healthcare organizations to ensure that their employees have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively use digital technologies in their work.

And it is not just care providers who need to be focused on, the Patient population too needs to be made aware about privacy issues and their ‘digital’ rights.

The role of governments in implementing data protection laws for the healthcare industry, as cyber-attacks on healthcare stand as the greatest threat among other industries

The trust and adoption of digital health tools is directly proportional to people’s confidence in security, data privacy – a few incidents can erode faith and trust, which will be difficult to regain.

It is necessary for governments to implement specific data protection laws for the healthcare industry to address the unique challenges and risks posed by cyber-attacks on healthcare. Healthcare data is often more sensitive and valuable than data from other industries, making it a prime target for cybercriminals. In addition to being potentially valuable for financial gain, healthcare data can also be used for nefarious purposes, such as identity theft or insurance fraud. Therefore, it is important for governments to take steps to protect healthcare data from unauthorized access and misuse.

Implementing specific data protection laws for the healthcare industry could help to ensure that healthcare organizations are held to high standards of data security and that they are held accountable if they fail to protect patient data. These laws could also help to provide guidance to healthcare organizations on how to effectively protect patient data and respond to cyber-attacks.