To ensure quality healthcare to all citizens, especially in remote Bangladesh, there is no alternative to using smart digital technology.
Speakers highlighted these at a roundtable meeting on the last day of the 17th 'BASIS SoftExpo' organized by Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) held at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachol on Sunday.
The roundtable meeting, titled, ‘AI, Telemedicine and Smart Healthcare’, discussed various aspects of healthcare, including digitalization of the country’s health system, smart healthcare, use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The discussions were attended by health technicians, doctors and government officials.
Former Head of Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College, Professor Dr. Fatima Ashraf said, “To be healthy, one must have information about one’s health. And this data analysis should be done using artificial intelligence. The government should set up a multi-disciplinary technical committees to formulate policies related to smart healthcare and use of artificial intelligence in medicine.”
Founder of HelloDoctor, Forkan Hosen, said, “About 2.5 million people are now suffering from various health problems including hypertension and diabetes. What we need most now are wearable devices. Many families will not be able to spend that much money. But our wearable devices will greatly reduce this cost.”
He said that the doctor’s serial at their consulting chambers must be done online. If it is digitized it will be much more discipline. AI still has some work to do. It should also be explored whether they are ready, for instance, the services should be fully automated.
Mustaf Shiramousumi, junior consultant of Nawabganj sub-district health complex, working as a doctor in remote areas of the country, said, “Reminders to patients can be given on various issues such as vaccination, food for the undernourished. If you do this, no one will forget to availe the services. Introducing telemedicine services will save a lot of costs.”
DRRA Executive Director Farida Yasmin said, “AI is very important in enhancing effiecieny in healthcare. We still face one problem lack of digitization of healthcare. As everything is not yet under automation, we are not able to take full advantage of it. So the first thing to do in healthcare is to completely automate this sector.”