Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Healthcare in Pakistan and Challenges in Medical Students - A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Artificial intelligence has recently grown in popularity and revolutionized several sectors, including healthcare and medical education. AI technology has shown promise as a means of enhancing clinical results and the medical field functionality. Still, Pakistan's healthcare sector faces several hurdles in using Artificial Intelligence. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the future of artificial intelligence in the Pakistan's healthcare system and to assess challenges in medical students. Methods: This cross-sectional study addressed 302 medical students from notable medical institutions across Pakistan. A designed online questionnaire that evaluated the participant's knowledge with the application of AI in the healthcare system of Pakistan and challenges faced by them served as the data collection method. Data was analyzed using SPSS software, version 23.0. Results: Among the 302 respondents, most of the respondents had never attended any session providing AI knowledge during their course. 74.8% of the students agreed that AI can perform better and replace human beings in analyzing patient information to reach diagnosis. Only 29.1% of the participants agreed that the medical education they are currently receiving is adequately preparing them for working alongside AI tools in the future. Conclusion: According to this survey, most of the medical students thought that AI can diagnose patients more accurately than humans, but existing medical education does not adequately equip students to work with AI tools in the future.