Designing a universal electronic health record system: creating a reliable national health database for AI and its application in healthcare in South Africa

Abstract

Digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming industries worldwide, and healthcare is no exception. The application of AI in medicine dates back to the 1950s, with several pilot initiatives reportedly conducted in Africa during the early 1980s. AI refers to a computer system’s ability to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence. These tasks include learning, decision-making, visual perception and speech recognition. Fig. 1 illustrates the different levels and categories of AI. To effectively leverage AI and emerging technologies in healthcare, AI models require access to training datasets in which outcome variables (e.g. disease onset) are clearly defined. Establishing a centralised technological infrastructure, specifically a universal electronic health record (UEHR) system, for all South Africans is therefore a critical first step. Such a platform would enable the collection and integration of high-quality health data, supporting national healthcare planning and ultimately improving health outcomes.