The National Health Service, or NHS, of the United Kingdom, is one of the largest public health systems in the world, and a major problem hangs over it: its antiquated IT infrastructure.
Technical problems with a sector would be a challenge anywhere, but in the context of healthcare, such issues are even more critical in nature. The medical records of nearly 67 million people lie within the NHS, so a system breach could spell a devastating meltdown, putting patient privacy and data security at risk.
AI Solutions: The Double-Edged Sword for Healthcare
According to the Financial Times, doctors have raised quite a few recent concerns. The point, however, is how long will this structure last before it actually starts proving itself to be a threat?
While NHS is grappling for answers to its creaking IT infrastructure, the tech companies are not short of opportunities. Over the past decade, the NHS has met several suppliers-from Google's DeepMind to the many working on AI-enabled "scribes" that will support doctors and clinicians in tasks that are administrative. AI is also succeeding in drug discovery, promising a revolution in how treatments will be developed.
"I am at a top London hospital and yet at times I feel as though we are operating in the stone age," one doctor told the Financial Times.
Patient records need to improve and it appears that the organization still relies on print-out email lists for patients. Due to inadequate IT systems, it's been said that 13.5 million working hours are wasted because of these.
But every new technology comes with a risk. Although AI could cut down heavily on much of the clerical workload and free up much time and effort, it also brings out vulnerabilities.
A system that uses more AI is an easy target for hackers. Weakened IT infrastructure can easily fall into malignant attacks, and the amount of personal details held within the NHS itself makes it a high-value target.
The Risk of Data Breach: Might It Be?
While the issues raised by doctors are sounding like due cause of traditional complaints over outmoded systems, these issues had big impacts. Hackers always look for an opportunity to exploit some vulnerabilities, and a weak IT system as is the case of the NHS might be the one hackers wish for.
With the continuing integration of AI into healthcare, the NHS needs to focus more on securing its infrastructure, TechCrunch reports. The benefits of AI notwithstanding, they are well balanced by strong cybersecurity measures to prevent any breaches.
What Next for the NHS and AI?
The NHS is at a crossroads. It needs to upgrade its IT infrastructure to keep abreast with the rapidly changing technology while maintaining secure patient information. As AI becomes center stage in decision-making, the health service must react with brisk speed not only to prevent internal failures but also to counter external threats.
Only time will tell if the NHS will be able to modernize without falling prey to a major data breach. For now, however, the healthcare system and millions of patients remain vulnerable, waiting for the next chapter in this ongoing digital transformation.
