NAVIGATING THE ROAD TOWARDS USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR HEALTHCARE

 

  • NAVIGATING THE ROAD TOWARDS USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR HEALTHCARE


  • By 2026, the conversation about artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has moved far beyond theory. The real question is no longer whether AI can help medicine, but how we can integrate it responsibly without losing the human essence of patient care. This journey is clearly a balancing act—between technological promise and the realities of law, ethics, and accountability.


  • Three major “lanes” have emerged along this road: clinical reasoning, operational efficiency, and ethical governance. AI systems today are already capable of assisting in clinical decision-making by analyzing patient histories, laboratory results, and global medical literature within seconds. Hospitals are also beginning to use AI to reduce paperwork, automate coding and billing, and assist in triage systems that help prioritize high-risk patients. These improvements could significantly reduce administrative waste and allow healthcare workers to focus more on direct patient care.


  • However, as I have often said, technology is always a double-edged sword. If used properly, AI could expand access to healthcare, especially in underserved areas. If used irresponsibly, it could create new risks—misdiagnoses, privacy breaches, and confusion over legal liability. This is why governments around the world are still carefully studying how AI should be regulated, not only in medicine but across all sectors of national life.


  • In response to my earlier column proposing AI-enabled medical kiosks, Department of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa offered a prudent reminder that the introduction of such technologies must pass through rigorous safeguards. As he explained:

  • “At this stage this is considered experimental. Research requires funding. If you have funding, and the Ethics Review Board (ERB) approves it, these tools can be used here. Then even after research validation, it needs Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration. And for the government to procure it, the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) approval is required.”


  • I share the caution expressed by Secretary Herbosa. Proper research validation, regulatory approval, and procurement review are not bureaucratic obstacles—they are necessary protections for patient safety. The real challenge is ensuring that innovation moves forward while these safeguards remain firmly in place.


  • One of the most complex issues surrounding AI in healthcare is liability. If an AI-assisted diagnosis turns out to be wrong, who is responsible? Is it the healthcare worker who encoded the data, the attending physician who relied on the system, the software developer who designed the algorithm, or the institution that approved its use? These questions do not yet have simple answers, and policymakers must address them before AI becomes fully embedded in routine medical practice.


  • Despite these uncertainties, I remain optimistic. Used wisely, AI could help bring medical expertise to remote communities, shorten waiting times, and improve early disease detection. The key is maintaining what experts call a “human-in-the-loop” system—where AI supports medical professionals rather than replaces them. Compassion, ethical judgment, and accountability must always remain human responsibilities.


  • I do not claim to be an AI expert, but I believe I have enough experience to contribute meaningfully to the national conversation. For readers who wish to explore my previous writings on the subject, you may visit my blog at senseneres.blogspot.com. If any government agency, academic institution, or private organization intends to initiate broader discussions on the responsible use of AI for the country’s development, I am volunteering to participate.

  • The road toward AI-enabled healthcare is long and complicated, but it is a journey we must take. The goal is not simply smarter machines; the goal is a healthier nation guided by technology that serves humanity—not the other way around.


  • RAMON IKE V. SENERES

  • www.facebook.com/ike.seneres iseneres@yahoo.com senseneres.blogspot.com 09088877282/04-01-2027

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