Multiple disciplinary engagement on artificial intelligence in healthcare

Abstract

Background: Technological advancements are transforming pharmaceutical and medicinal sciences, reinforcing the potential of innovative technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (Al), to become a steady member of the healthcare team. Whilst being widely considered as a promising approach, the integration of Al in public health practices is often linked to substantial challenges which may not be addressed by any one discipline in isolat ion. Multiple stakeholders reached out to the Malta Medicines Authority (MMA) through the MMA Academy for Patient Centred Excellence and Innovation in Regulatory Sciences, expressing interest in the field and urging initiatives to further explore the developing landscape. In response, an educational webinar was organised to provide a platform for professionals to exchange insights, discuss concerns and gauge the way forward. Method: The content of the webinar was designed by experts with different backgrounds, including data science, immersive technologies, informat ion management, as well as policy, regulatory, legal and clinical specialists. The disseminated invitation attracted registration by 133 individuals from public (46) and private (67) entities. Registrants were encouraged to submit questions which t hey wish to have addressed in the panel discussion scheduled towards t he end of the one-hour webinar. The panel was intended to complement the keynote sessions on the current state-of-play, Al applications in healthcare, prompt engineering, causes of apprehension, risks, key models of data protection, ethica I considerations, regulations, national strategies and future outlooks. The webinar, entitled Stakeholder Engagement on Al in Healthcare, was delivered in December 2024 and feedback collected thereafter via an evaluation tool using a five-point Likert scale. Results: Eighty-nine (89) local and international participants attended the webinar, with their areas of practice ranging across pharmacy, clinical, public health, industry, academia, regulatory sciences and information technology. By bringing together representatives from different spheres, t he webina r offered multiple disciplinary engagement on diverse elements of an ever-evolving field. The exchange of views touched upon the underutilization of healthcare data, which might be fragmented, incomplete or trapped, hindering its possible use to improve patient outcomes. The need for collaboration, also beyond healt hcare settings, was emphasised, highlighting that at this stage, innovative tools may be implementable in some scenarios, such as pharmacovigilance, while furt her developments are necessitated for other contexts such as rare diseases. Questions raised and points discussed with t he panellists included the upfront effort required to collate data, facilitators that could enable healthcare professionals to leverage Al in their daily practice, regulatory flexibi lity to support the unlocking of Al's full potential while protecting t he public, and harmonisation across jurisdictions. Feedback gathered from participants was largely positive, with 86% of respondents indicating that they would recommend such webinar to colleagues and consider attending a similar educational initiative in the future. Conclusion: The positive response and collective engagement on this initiative augur well for further outreach endeavours, Conclusion: The positive response and collective engagement on this initiative augur well for further outreach endeavours, sustaining the commitment of the MMA Academy to continue serving as catalyst for innovation, collaboration and dissemination. Consolidated efforts are due for embracing the shift from promise to practice, t ranslating artificial intelligence into true health value for our patients.