Mankind, Disease and Technology: A Cat, Mouse and Fiddle Game

Srinivasan Govindaraj*

Mankind, Disease and Technology: A Cat, Mouse and Fiddle Game.

Mankind has been playing a cat and mouse game with diseases almost from the start of human civilization. Sometimes we have had a resounding victory, but sometimes disease has won,
nearly wiping out populations in its path. Be it plague, polio, smallpox, cholera or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) all have left an indelible impression on humans.

More specifically, the latest arms of technology in form of artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning have thrown open new vistas for medical science. AI is the science of creating intelligent systems that help solve complex problems. Various potential applications include data analysis, fields of imaging, oncology, clinical decision support systems, drug research and software that
uses AI in wearable technology such as Fitbits and smartwatches that helps to alert users after analyzing data.

The National Health Service (NHS) in England is setting up a national AI laboratory to enhance care of patients and research. According to the Philips Future Health Index 2019, among US healthcare professionals about 33% use AI-powered solutions in their practice or hospital, while countries like Germany (41%) and China (85%) surpass the US in the use of AI technologies among healthcare professionals. There is almost a global race among countries to gain leadership in AI and significant funding with investments running into billions of dollars in AI start-ups, with many focussed on healthcare. Hence, taking everything into consideration, even though the music from the fiddle is new, it is time to listen and embrace change, with adequate safeguards and cautious optimism.

Public Health Open J. 2019; 4(2): 56. doi: 10.17140/PHOJ-4-135

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