Education for pharmacists must incorporate AI, data ethics and cybersecurity
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising healthcare across multiple domains, from diagnosis to treatment.
AI can also help develop new medicines by predicting drug efficacy and interactions. This makes the development process safer, faster and more efficient.
By taking over routine, non-clinical tasks, AI allows pharmacists to focus on what they do best – addressing patient-specific needs.
However, for AI to be effective, it is crucial that the data it is based on is accurate and reliable. Without proper data preparation, AI recommendations can be flawed, leading to errors and inaccuracies.
By investing in data quality initiatives, Malaysia can position itself at the forefront of this rapidly evolving field.
High-quality data is essential for AI technologies to work accurately and reliably, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and more efficient healthcare.
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of being prepared for epidemics. AI can play a critical role in this by analysing patient data and environmental factors to predict disease outbreaks.
It can also improve access to essential medicines and vaccines, and help distribute medical supplies more effectively.
With AI, we can respond faster and more effectively to future health crises. While AI has many capabilities, these machines cannot replicate the judgement, empathy and expertise of a human pharmacist.
Humans have a unique ability to observe and understand patient behaviour, and to empathise with them in a way that machines cannot. These observations are crucial in patient care.
The growing amount of sensitive patient data, however, requires strong data privacy and cybersecurity measures to be in place. Most healthcare organisations are not equipped to handle such large amounts of data, making them vulnerable to data breaches.
If we are not prepared, data breaches can have serious consequences, damaging our reputation and finances. With the rise of ransomware and cyberattacks, we need strict regulations to protect patient data. The question is: Are we ready to handle this challenge? Should companies be held accountable for protecting patient data, and face consequences if they fail?
AI operates in a regulatory grey area, and its safety and robustness in healthcare models are often overlooked. This raises ethical concerns, particularly when AI-generated decisions conflict with patient preferences.
The issue of malpractice is especially contentious, with debates over who is liable for life-threatening mistakes made by AI.
Organisations also struggle with trusting AI decision-making tools, as over-reliance on AI recommendations can erode the critical thinking and judgement of healthcare professionals. Moreover, AI algorithms are only as good as the data they are trained on. If the data is biased, the AI model will be too.
This raises important questions about accountability: How can we ensure that healthcare providers are responsible for their AI models and the data they use? And who is liable when AI-driven decisions lead to negative consequences?
The future of healthcare lies in education that combines human expertise with AI. As patient care becomes increasingly reliant on AI, pharmacists are more crucial than ever for their human insight and oversight.
To succeed, pharmacists must be AI-aware, and this requires education that incorporates AI fundamentals, data ethics and cybersecurity.
UCSI University’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences dean and UCSI Hospital Pharmacy Services head Prof Dr Mogana S. Rajagopal is a pharmacology specialist with 24 years of experience in pharmacy practice. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
