Advancing Equitable Healthcare with AI: Bridging Gaps and Building Bridges
Introduction
In the vast landscape of healthcare, where access to quality services can often resemble a labyrinth of challenges, artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a beacon of hope. AI has the power to reshape healthcare practices, but its true potential can only be realised when it ensures equitable access for all. This blog takes you on a journey into the heart of our endeavour to leverage AI for transforming healthcare while addressing disparities in access. Let’s dive into the world of Mythri Thermalytix, a remarkable low-cost device for breast cancer screening and risk assessment. This device has been designed to bring equitable healthcare to the forefront, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The Challenge: Breast Cancer and Barriers to Screening in India
India grapples with a formidable healthcare challenge – breast cancer. This cancer carries the unfortunate distinction of being the most common cancer among women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The critical factor in improving clinical outcomes and survival rates is early detection. However, accessibility and affordability barriers have cast a long shadow over this essential aspect of healthcare. Mammography, the gold standard for breast cancer screening, while highly effective, poses its own set of challenges, including high costs, radiation exposure and discomfort. These barriers make regular screenings, especially in LMICs such as India, a daunting task. Moreover, the efficacy of mammography diminishes in younger women and those with dense breast tissue.
An AI Solution
Post COVID-19, there has been an acceleration in health innovation and digital services to address health system gaps in India, including a wide variety of low-cost technologies. Mythri Thermalytix, one such example, employs artificial intelligence algorithms to analyse thermal images and produce an automated report assessing breast health. This portable testing equipment is user-friendly, requires minimal expertise for operation and can be easily implemented in remote areas. Not only that, it is significantly more cost-effective than traditional mammography, with a 20-fold reduction in expenses. This screening method can identify women who may need further evaluation at secondary or tertiary healthcare facility, making it a practical and economically viable choice for breast cancer screening in LMICs. Mythri Thermalytix screening has been successfully employed for breast health assessments in community settings in India.
Lessons Learned: Successes and Challenges
What Worked
Collaboration Across Sectors: The journey towards equitable healthcare commenced with a ground-breaking collaboration between Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone (AMTZ) and Niramai. This collaboration was based on a holistic approach to addressing healthcare challenges,4,5 resulting in the development of Mythri Thermalytix.
Community Engagement: Engaging with communities emerged as a pivotal success factor. By gaining a thorough understanding of their unique needs and concerns, AI solutions were tailored accordingly. This community-centric approach lay down the groundwork for the development of Mythri Thermalytix.5
Transparency: Clear and candid communication regarding the potential and limitations of Mythri Thermalytix fostered trust among stakeholders. This transparency played a pivotal role in managing expectations and garnering support for breast cancer screening initiatives.
What Didn’t Work
Data Privacy Challenges: Developing robust data-sharing agreements that harmonised with legal and ethical requirements was a time-consuming endeavour.
Regulatory Hurdles: Navigating the ever-evolving regulatory landscape of AI in healthcare demanded constant adaptation. Regulatory bodies must adopt agile approaches to keep pace with AI advancements while safeguarding patient interests.4,5
Key Messages and Recommendations
Based on our experiences and insights, here are key messages and recommendations for advancing equitable healthcare through AI.
Prioritise Collaboration: The success of Mythri in healthcare hinges on multidisciplinary collaboration. Involving all stakeholders from the outset fosters a culture of teamwork and shared objectives.
Community-Centric Approach: Tailoring Mythri to address specific community needs ensures that healthcare innovations are accessible and beneficial to everyone, regardless of their background or location.
Regulatory Agility: Regulatory bodies must embrace agile approaches to stay abreast of AI advancements. Regulations should strike a delicate balance between fostering innovation and ensuring patient safety and data privacy.
Conclusion: A Promising Future for Accessible Breast Cancer Detection
Breast cancer continues to cast a shadow over India, but Mythri Thermalytix offers a ray of hope. With its potential to provide accurate, affordable and accessible breast cancer screening, this innovative technology has the power to save lives and bridge the gaps in healthcare access in LMICs. As we look ahead, continued research and investment in Mythri Thermalytix are indispensable to ensure that women in India and beyond have access to the best possible breast cancer screening methods. In this journey, we are not just building bridges; we are forging a path to equitable healthcare for all.
References
1. Performance of artificial intelligence-based breast cancer screening in a community setting: a real-world evaluation study [internet]. Lancet Oncol 2022;34:1470-2045, Available from: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(22)00419-3/fulltext.
2. Indian Council of Medical Research. Ethical guidelines for application of artificial intelligence in biomedical research and healthcare [internet]. ICMR. Available from: https://main.icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/upload_documents/Ethical_Guidelines_AI_Healthcare_2023.pdf.
3. Digital health dialogues. (n.d.). Available from: https://phfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Digital-Health-Dialogues-Report.pdf
Links to Additional Resources
4. Kakarmath S, Esteva A, Arnaout R, Harvey H, Kumar S, Muse E, et al. Best practices for authors of healthcare-related artificial intelligence manuscripts. NPJ Digit Med 2020;3(1):134.
5. Jasarevic T. WHO issues first global report on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health and six guiding principles for its design and use [online]. 2021. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/28-06-2021-who-issues-first-global-report-on-ai-in-health-and-six-guiding-principles-for-its-design-and-use.
Disclaimer
The views expressed in this World EBHC Day Blog, as well as any errors or omissions, are the sole responsibility of the author and do not represent the views of the World EBHC Day Steering Committee, Official Partners or Sponsors; nor does it imply endorsement by the aforementioned parties.
