Unlocking the potential of GenAI for public healthcare

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is booming, transforming industries and the way we work.

To stay ahead of these advancements and foster a future-resilient nation, Singapore has put in place multiple frameworks like the Model AI Governance Framework for Generative AI, National AI Strategy 2.0 and Project Moonshot that help companies adopt GenAI in their operations.

The healthcare sector has been a major beneficiary from GenAI’s capabilities to capture massive amounts of data – from clinical notes and diagnostic images to medical charts – and transform them into structured data sets that allow faster and more efficient analysis.

SingHealth, for example, recently adopted a GenAI-powered documentation tool that assists healthcare professionals in real-time notetaking during patient consultations.

Despite these benefits, there is still resistance within the healthcare sector to fully embrace GenAI due to different factors, like regulatory hurdles and interoperability concerns.

SoftServe is empowering the healthcare sector to adopt GenAI technologies and enhance their operations at the same pace — from breaking barriers of entry, to collaborating across sectors to incentivise GenAI deployment.

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Enhancing patient care with integrated GenAI solutions

Public healthcare organisations sometimes face challenges integrating GenAI technologies with legacy systems due to budget constraints and the need for uninterrupted service provision.

“Yet, it is vital that healthcare data be easily accessible,” said a SoftServe spokesperson.

“The ability to combine and transmit records from various sources within a network of healthcare providers is crucial for delivering patient-centred care from anywhere, by anyone.”

Democratising data access enables healthcare professionals to collaborate and benefit from comprehensive patient information to improve the quality of care, he added.

To ensure accuracy, GenAI needs to be integrated seamlessly with the organisation’s pre-existing data infrastructure.

SoftServe’s solutions can be adapted and integrated across hospitals, clinics, and public agencies with different complexity levels and requirements, shared the firm’s Robotics & Advanced Programs Director, Olha Hrytsay.

“Depending on the complexity of the use case, we can provide the required integration capabilities, from electronic health record (EHR) systems and clinical workflows to other healthcare technologies,” she said.

Currently, the firm offers GenAI-powered avatars that fit the setting, brand voice and document base using the customer's existing infrastructure. This enables the avatars to reference the knowledge and data relevant to each customer’s source.

“Our modular approach allows for incremental upgrades, reducing disruption and cost,” shared the SoftServe spokesperson.

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Tackling barriers of entry

One of the main challenges healthcare organisations face in their GenAI adoption journey is regulatory compliance, shared Hrytsay.

Another spokesperson added that solution providers can help organisations by providing regulatory expertise and technical guidance.

The company’s regulatory experts “collaborate with policymakers and regulatory bodies to harmonise regulations across regions [and] assist clients in navigating compliance requirements and streamline the approval process.”

For example, in addressing the concerns of a large specialty pharmaceutical company that required better patient care outcomes and operational savings, SoftServe provided a prototype that aligned to strict regulatory requirements.

“As we work with customers from the proof of concept and ideation stages, it helps us build an architecture that avoids pitfalls when scaling,” Hrytsay added.

Once the regulatory hurdles are out of the way, another challenge lies ahead: a shortage of professionals with AI skills.

Upskilling healthcare professionals is essential to broadening GenAI implementation in the industry, the firm’s spokesperson said. Breaking cultural resistance to new technologies is also at play here, as the transition to new technologies is often challenging.

SoftServe has invested in training programmes and education campaigns to strengthen the AI talent pool and promote technology adoption, building trust in the capabilities and benefits of GenAI in the process, he added.

The importance of collaboration

Public-private partnerships can accelerate development and deployment of GenAI solutions in healthcare – by combining the public sector’s understanding of healthcare with the private companies’ expertise in GenAI.

These partnerships enable knowledge sharing and technology transfer necessary to foster an innovative ecosystem within the healthcare sector through continuous learning and improvement, the company said.

For instance, as a member of Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)’s AI Verify Foundation, SoftServe organises targeted workshops for key industries interested in understanding and adopting GenAI.

 Additionally, private companies like SoftServe can help public healthcare organisations to deploy smaller-scale projects to test the practicality and viability of GenAI solutions for specific needs, without having to roll out a full deployment if the organisation is not yet ready.

“Working closely with public sector partners ensures that GenAI solutions comply with regulatory standards and policies and fulfill safety and privacy standards. This alignment can facilitate smoother implementation and increase public trust in GenAI solutions.

“Our regulatory sandboxes enable innovative solutions to be developed and validated in a controlled setting,” SoftServe’s spokesperson added.