Britain must harness the transformative power of AI to ‘revolutionise the healthcare system’ and reduce cancer deaths, says the former health secretary who carried out a major inquiry into the NHS

Britain must harness the transformative power of AI to ‘revolutionise the healthcare system’ and reduce cancer deaths, Lord Darzi has stressed.

Artificial intelligence is “no longer a distant dream” but “a reality that is here to stay” and must be seized, he says.

The former Health Secretary, who recently carried out a major review into the state of the NHS, said it will increasingly play a crucial role in healthcare.

He said there will likely come a time when AI is used to quickly detect all cancers, allowing earlier treatment and increasing survival rates.

But he warned that “ambition must be tempered with pragmatism” and that robust regulation will be needed to ensure it is used wisely.

Lord Darzai, who recently carried out a major review of the NHS, said there will come a time when AI is used to quickly detect all cancers (stock image)

The former Health Secretary said artificial intelligence should be used to ‘revolutionise the healthcare system’ and reduce cancer deaths in Britain (stock image)

‘It may take some time, but it feels eminently possible to at some point have a system that uses AI to detect all forms of cancer earlier, leading to less aggressive treatment, fewer side effects and better quality of care. to live.

“To make this a shared reality, support for innovation by the new administration and robust regulation are essential.”

Labor has pledged to prioritize cancer as Britain’s survival rates lag behind those of much of Europe and other countries.

Poor access to timely diagnosis and treatment, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, is a factor with more than four in five NHS trusts failing to provide treatment in time.

Although hospitals are expected to treat 85 per cent of patients within 62 days of receiving an urgent referral, data from NHS England shows that 82 per cent are falling short of this target.

Lord Darzi is among the leading voices in oncology calling on ministers to deliver on a recent pledge to develop a dedicated cancer strategy.

Leading cancer charities have joined forces with AstraZeneca as part of the Cancer: Project Zero (must keep) which ultimately aims to eliminate cancer as a cause of death.

However, he warned that ‘ambition must be tempered with pragmatism’ and that robust regulation will be needed’ for AI (stock image)

They hope to advise ministers on the best way to achieve new cancer targets.

Professor Richard Simcock, Chief Medical Officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, agreed that AI will play a crucial role in future strategies.

He said: ‘Artificial intelligence solutions will soon be able to decipher the jargon of a pathology or radiology report for humans as easily as our smartphones can unlock a food menu in a foreign language.

“However, we need professional communities to guide these evolutions and more openly welcome efforts to improve patient autonomy.”

Experts say there is a strong economic argument that cancer research has been ‘overlooked for too long’, with every £1 invested delivering an estimated £2.80 in economic benefits.

Michelle Mitchell, CEO of CRUK, said: ‘There is no quick fix, but improvements can and should be made.

‘Research and innovation have been the driving force behind the doubling of survival rates in Britain over the past fifty years – and despite the current prospects facing cancer patients, we are at the center of a golden age of cancer research which, if it is harnessed, the power will increase economic growth and improve outcomes.’

Anna Arent, head of oncology at AstraZeneca UK, said: ‘Zero may feel far away, but our aim with this campaign is to celebrate the progress already made and jointly tackle the next necessary steps.

‘This includes welcoming the Government’s recent commitment to a specific cancer strategy, and calling for this to be developed in partnership with the cancer community.’