Research from PwC has shown that applying artificial intelligence on a large scale can lead to savings for patients and to more efficient and accessible healthcare. In the three care pathways that were investigated alone, European health care systems can save an estimated EUR 170 billion. However, strict laws and regulations, for example, can still considerably impede the optimal use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
For the report ' Sherlock in Health: How artificial intelligence can improve quality and efficiency, while reducing healthcare costs in Europe ', public data was analyzed in a number of Western European countries and discussions were held with hospitals and clinics, payers and technology companies from Austria, Germany and the Netherlands active in the field of artificial intelligence. The research examines the potential costs of implementation, the efficiency in the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of disorders and the costs that must be incurred despite the use of artificial intelligence.
The research was carried out within three care processes and shows what the application of artificial intelligence could yield. This yielded the following results:
- Preventing childhood obesity : the use of artificial intelligence could lead to cost savings of up to EUR 90 billion over the next 10 years. This estimate includes lower medical costs and less loss due to lower productivity and absenteeism. In addition, artificial intelligence can contribute to more efficient self-monitoring to prevent obesity.
- Diagnosis of dementia: the use of artificial intelligence could contribute to a saving of EUR 8 billion over the next 10 years, mainly due to a higher diagnosis rate for dementia in primary care. Artificial intelligence can make a diagnosis that is 90% reliable, and a large proportion of dementia patients without an official diagnosis benefit from it.
- Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer: artificial intelligence can contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, especially in the early detection, decision-making and reduction of the direct involvement of doctors in any repetitive tasks. When applied on a large scale, artificial intelligence can save EUR 74 billion in the next 10 years.
source: https://www.pwc.nl/nl/publicaties/sherlock-in-health.html