The Russian government, under the direction of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, intends to include innovative technologies in healthcare. The new federal project "Digital Healthcare Services," which includes the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine, will become part of the development strategy for this area. It is planned that funds will be allocated from 2025 to finance this process. However, despite the plans and opportunities, the implementation of technologies may face limitations and obstacles.
Currently, AI in medicine is represented by two types of solutions: medical (analysis of images, electronic medical record data, video stream) and non-medical (voice services for optimizing the operation of call centers, video analytics services for ensuring patient safety, chatbots for primary data collection about the patient before making an appointment with a doctor).
Experts note that the choice of projects for implementation should be based on the accuracy of the tool, measurable effect, quality of information protection, and cost of the product. The need for funding from the state for an industry focused on AI projects is also emphasized by the interviewees of "Ъ."
Aide to the President of the Russian Federation, Maxim Oreshkin, noted that already 16% of healthcare organizations have implemented AI, suggesting that this trend will only intensify. However, even with the increasing use of AI, problems are encountered. Recently, Roszdravnadzor for the first time suspended the use of the Botkin.AI analysis system, designed to detect pathologies on computed tomography scans using AI. The agency believes that the development, created with investments from Rosatom, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, R-Pharm, and Tashir, may harm patients' health.
According to estimates by the Ministry of Health, it is planned that each region will acquire at least one medical device using artificial intelligence this year. By 2024, this figure is planned to be increased to at least three medical devices using AI technologies.
While there are questions about the work of AI, there are no questions about robot cats. A pilot project to introduce cute robot couriers to help medical staff and visitors has started in three hospitals in the capital.
