A new national project… employing artificial intelligence to predict cancers and diseases

The Ministry of Health and Community Protection revealed a new national project and initiative that relies on artificial intelligence techniques to predict cancers and non-communicable diseases and detect them early, in a proactive step aimed at enhancing health prevention and reducing infection rates and complications resulting from chronic diseases, by moving from the model of treatment after the appearance of symptoms to the model of predicting diseases and health risks and early intervention for treatment, instead of waiting for the patient until symptoms appear or a heart or stroke occurs, which contributes to building a more aware and healthy society.

The Ministry explained to “Emirates Today” that the disease forecasting project was prepared during the past year, and is scheduled to begin its implementation during the current year. It includes the use of smart systems to analyze health data for individuals through the unified health file “My Care” and identify the groups most at risk of contracting a number of diseases, including breast cancer and lung cancer, which contributes to direct communication with these groups and providing screening and early detection services before the health condition develops.

In detail, the head of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at the Ministry of Health and Community Protection, Dr. Buthaina Ben Balila, said that the Ministry has actually begun employing artificial intelligence in early breast cancer detection programs, in addition to a new initiative based on artificial intelligence for early detection of lung cancer, noting that the broader project is the “disease prediction” system, which is based on analyzing health risk factors before symptoms appear.

She explained, in special statements to “Emirates Today”, that the mechanism of work and prediction of diseases through artificial intelligence depends on entering and analyzing health data for individuals through the unified health file (My Care), where risk factors will be monitored, such as: age, smoking, and high levels of sugar or cholesterol, even if the increases are minor and did not require intervention in the past, stressing that the role of the project is to identify groups vulnerable to infection with any diseases, and then these cases will be contacted early, and medical consultations will be provided. Nutrition, directing them to healthy lifestyles, with close follow-up, to avoid the condition developing into dangerous diseases.

She added that the Ministry no longer waits for a patient to arrive at the hospital as a result of a heart or stroke, but rather takes the initiative in prevention from the early stages, by predicting health risks and early intervention, which contributes to building a more aware and healthy society.

Regarding the results of the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2024-2025, which were announced recently, she indicated that the results were promising, expressing the Ministry’s pride in what has been achieved, and stressing that current efforts focus on sustaining these results and reducing the rates of risk factors in the long term, in line with the goals of the National Agenda and Sustainability 2030.

She added that the Ministry is working to intensify preventive programs, adopt health policies and priority national programmes, in addition to launching sustainable national awareness campaigns aimed at early detection of risk factors for chronic diseases and their complications, as well as developing training programmes, to raise the efficiency of health personnel, and strengthen the role of primary health care, as it is the first entry point to the health system.

She pointed out that future awareness campaigns will focus on directly influencing community behaviour, and motivating individuals to adopt a healthy lifestyle, which includes: physical activity, proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and abstinence from smoking, in addition to raising awareness of the impact of environmental pollution, thus enhancing the concept of self-protection and community initiative in preserving health.

The Ministry of Health and Community Protection affirmed its keenness to adopt and launch many innovative initiatives, projects and programmes, through which they aim to enhance community health, through comprehensive and innovative health services according to international standards, and giving the patient great and pivotal importance, according to a methodology that applies the highest standards of excellence and professionalism, by building hospitals equipped with the latest equipment, distributing them throughout various parts of the country, making sure to have a medical staff at the highest level, and launching continuous awareness campaigns, to spread health awareness among citizens and residents, with the aim of building a healthy society free of diseases. Diseases, and the UAE’s interest in the health sector is also evident through the health strategy adopted by the state.

The Ministry sought to develop health information systems, apply global standards in infrastructure management in health facilities, build quality and therapeutic, health and pharmaceutical safety systems in accordance with international standards, provide a vital legislative and governance framework, and provide distinguished regulatory and oversight services to the health sector.

Regarding the country’s trend towards artificial intelligence and digital medical services and making them the cornerstone of any development and modernization it carries out in any medical facility or service, the Ministry has developed a comprehensive plan to integrate artificial intelligence 100% into medical services, in implementation of the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, in line with the UAE Centennial 2071, to bring about a transformation in the field of health care provided to patients.