AI: Dr. Azad Moopen on Healthcare's Future

Published Date : 18/07/2025 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize the healthcare industry, offering precision, efficiency, and preventive care. Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, discusses the transformative impact of AI in healthcare. 

Dubai — The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into healthcare is poised to bring about a significant transformation. From real-time data analysis to precision-guided solutions, AI is more than just a technological advancement; it is a complete game changer in the sector. The changes are evident and profound.

In 2025, the global AI in healthcare market was valued at $39.25 billion, and it is projected to grow to $504.17 billion by 2032. This growth is not just a bullish forecast but a clear indication of the radical reimagining of healthcare. Across hospitals, clinics, and health tech labs from Abu Dhabi to Zimbabwe, AI is not just making inroads; it is redrawing the entire map of medicine.

In the UAE, a nation committed to becoming a global leader in digital health, this revolution is being embraced with extraordinary speed. From robotic surgeries to AI-driven health records and predictive analytics, the future of medicine is being shaped by AI. These intelligent systems are making decisions that can make a difference between life and death, especially in precision diagnosis.

Reducing the margin of error is one of the key areas where AI excels. A misdiagnosis can be fatal, and diagnostic errors affect an estimated 12 million adults annually in the United States. AI promises a quantum leap in this area. Machine learning algorithms, fed on vast datasets of medical imaging, lab results, and patient histories, can detect abnormalities with a precision that humans simply cannot match. For example, Google Health’s AI system has demonstrated greater accuracy than human radiologists in spotting breast cancer in mammograms.

A landmark study published in Nature found that Google’s deep learning AI reduced both false positives and false negatives compared to radiologists in both US and UK datasets. Meanwhile, DeepMind’s AlphaFold, an AI system developed by the Google subsidiary, has cracked the protein folding problem, a breakthrough that could accelerate drug discovery and disease understanding exponentially.

In the UAE, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has launched Malaffi, the region’s first Health Information Exchange, aiming to use AI to centralize and analyze patient data across providers. The ability to use this data to predict, rather than merely treat, illnesses could shift healthcare from a reactive to a preventive model.

AI doesn’t just diagnose; it also prescribes. Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) are now guiding doctors through labyrinths of data to arrive at the best course of treatment, not just generally, but for specific individuals. IBM Watson for Oncology, trained by oncologists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, has been assisting physicians globally by recommending personalized cancer treatments based on clinical evidence.

In the UAE, AI is already augmenting healthcare through robot-assisted surgeries at hospitals like the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Aster, Medcare, and Mediclinic. These systems offer precision, reducing recovery times and surgical risks.

But the real power lies in the democratization of this expertise. Through cloud-based platforms and mobile apps, AI-driven diagnostics and treatment recommendations could soon be available even in remote regions of the world, addressing longstanding inequities in access to care. Imagine knowing you are likely to develop a certain disease, not from vague probabilities but with high certainty, years before any symptoms appear. That’s not science fiction; that’s predictive analytics – something AI can do with great precision.

AI systems now analyze through reams of patient data, genomic information, and real-time wearable sensor data to identify at-risk individuals. For instance, Mount Sinai’s AI research has produced significant advances, particularly in coronary artery disease prediction using electronic health records (EHRs).

In the Gulf, where lifestyle-related diseases like Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular issues are prevalent, such tools are not only welcome but necessary. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is already piloting AI-based prediction models for chronic conditions, and wearable integration with digital health platforms is underway.

The fusion of wearables with AI is particularly transformative. A UAE-based healthcare entity recently partnered with global tech players to pilot remote monitoring systems, allowing doctors to track patients’ vitals in real time and intervene early, turning reactive care into proactive protection.

If the trends are any indication, the future hospital will not only treat patients better but run smarter. AI-powered logistics, staffing algorithms, and patient-flow management systems are already optimizing operations, reducing wait times, and improving outcomes. In SEHA’s flagship Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, AI is being used to streamline triage and improve emergency room response times. Globally, institutions like Johns Hopkins Hospital in the U.S. are using predictive models to anticipate ICU demands, freeing up resources in advance and preventing crises.

These smart hospitals are not just defined by flashy tech but by a philosophy: data-driven care that is seamless, efficient, and human-centric.

The AI-in-healthcare narrative isn’t without its ethical dilemmas. Questions of data privacy, algorithmic bias, and accountability loom large. But that’s where governance and regulation step in. In the UAE, the National Strategy for AI 2031 includes strong frameworks for ethical AI use, ensuring transparency, data protection, and oversight.

Importantly, AI is not about replacing doctors but about enhancing their capacity. It frees clinicians from paperwork and routine diagnostics so they can focus on what machines can’t replicate: compassion, creativity, and critical thinking. The question is not whether AI will change healthcare, but how boldly and responsibly we will embrace that change. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the projected growth of the AI in healthcare market by 2032?

A: The global AI in healthcare market is projected to grow to $504.17 billion by 2032.

Q: How does AI reduce diagnostic errors in healthcare?

A: AI uses machine learning algorithms fed on vast datasets of medical imaging, lab results, and patient histories to detect abnormalities with a precision that humans cannot match, reducing diagnostic errors.

Q: What is Malaffi, and what is its purpose?

A: Malaffi is the region’s first Health Information Exchange launched by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Its purpose is to use AI to centralize and analyze patient data across providers, shifting healthcare from a reactive to a preventive model.

Q: How is AI being used in robotic surgeries in the UAE?

A: AI is being used in robotic surgeries at hospitals like the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Aster, Medcare, and Mediclinic, offering precision, reducing recovery times, and minimizing surgical risks.

Q: What ethical considerations are being addressed in the use of AI in healthcare?

A: Ethical considerations include data privacy, algorithmic bias, and accountability. The UAE's National Strategy for AI 2031 includes strong frameworks for ethical AI use, ensuring transparency, data protection, and oversight. 

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