For National Cancer Society of Malaysia managing director Dr M Murallitharan it is promising but there are issues such as data bias, overfitting (when accurate predictions cannot be made) and transparency that needs to be addressed.
He told FMT the successful implementation of AI in cancer detection also requires diverse high-quality datasets, regulatory approvals and seamless integration into clinical workflows.
On Nov 20 health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the government is open to using the latest technology, including AI, to detect diseases such as cancer if such technology is proven to be safe, effective and cost-efficient.
He said a pilot project to use AI to detect lung cancer is already under way at the National Cancer Institute as well as the Cyberjaya, Kajang and Putrajaya hospitals.
Murallitharan told FMT the successful implementation of AI in cancer detection requires diverse high-quality datasets, regulatory approvals and seamless integration into clinical workflows.
He said AI systems are able to process large volumes of data, including medical images and patient histories much faster and, in some cases, more accurately than humans.
“This capability can help doctors detect signs of cancer earlier, even in cases that traditional methods might overlook,” he said.
“AI should assist in clinical judgement with robust privacy protections and regular updates for rare cases, but not replace it,” he added.
When asked to comment on the view that the health ministry should focus on upgrading medical facilities and improving its services instead of exploring the use of AI in cancer detection, Murallitharan said both approaches could go hand in hand.
“While it is crucial to continue investing in facilities and services, integrating AI can help bridge some gaps in the current system,” he said.
Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia president Dr Shanmuganathan Ganeson said any technology, including AI, should be explored if it can improve healthcare.
For instance, he said, lung cancer now accounts for 10% of all cancer cases in Malaysia.
He said nearly 90% of cases have only been diagnosed at Stages III or IV, when treatment options have become limited and costly.
“Advanced early detection tools can significantly improve outcomes by catching the disease at earlier stages,” he told FMT.
“Public health expenditure should override curative (treatment) costs to an extent,” he said, adding that the benefit of such expenditure would only bear fruit in the long-term.