Country: Finland

Committee: World Health Organization

Delegates name: Raissa Putri Raspati
Topic: Improving Public Health through The Advancement of Artificial Intelligence

We are now experiencing the fourth industrial revolution which are characterized by
the use of Artificial Intelligence. Now, AI has become a new focus of international
competition since AI is a strategic technology that will lead in the future as a major
strategy to enhance national competitiveness. The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
as a major catalyst in the healthcare revolution is undeniable. We are firmly seeking to
broaden this base by expand our understanding of the opportunities of AI in our
healthcare system. In support to this, our Prime Minister highlighted the importance
of avoiding delays in taking steps forward when it comes to AI.

In Finland, University of Tampere and TAYS Heart Hospital are now using
technologies precisely predict cardiovascular risk using genomics. The results can be
used to enhance patient safety and to target the monitoring more accurately at the
patients who would benefit the most from it. In the TAYS area alone, up to a thousand
patients a year can benefit from the study1. Thus, practicing more precision medicine
than intuitive medicine will make health care simpler, more accessible, less expensive
and deliver the best outcome 2. It has been reported that AI has the potential to
improve outcomes by 30-40 % and reduce the cost of treatment up to 50%3. Its a shift
towards prevention that all health systems around the world need to make. These
projects is undoubtedly fascinating, but we are at the very start of this journey.
Therefore, we must take artificial intelligence seriously and we cannot get stuck in the
starting blocks.

1
Vttresearch.com. (2017). Artificial intelligence to assist in the treatment of heart
patients. [online] Available at: http://www.vttresearch.com/media/news/
[Accessed 4 Oct. 2017].
2
HuffPost. (2017). Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare & The Fourth Industrial
Revolution. [online] Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/artificial-
intelligence-healthcare-the-fourth-industrial_us_58941bd1e4b0985224db540a
[Accessed 4 Oct. 2017].
3
Medium. (2017). The Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. [online]
Available at: https://medium.com/@Unfoldlabs/the-impact-of-artificial-intelligence-
in-healthcare-4bc657f129f5 [Accessed 4 Oct. 2017].
Thus, we Finland propose some solutions regarding the immediate concern with the
advancement of Artificial Intelligence globally, especially in developing countries.
First, Finland would like to support the developing countries by transfer of technology
and researchers through investing some of our AI companies in that country.
However, if the country itself is still struggling with its basic needs, we Finland would
like to participate in the reconstruction of the developing country through political
dialogue, providing financial help, developing cooperation and humanitarian aid
which is in line with our development policy which refers to activities that aim to
reduce poverty, implement fundamental rights and promote sustainable development
globally4. Second, utilization of AI in healthcare involves a lot of actors that have
different areas of concern. For example, medical doctors may be concern about losing
their jobs since AI may replace them in the future. Finland believes that this should
not be a concern although AI will replace some of human work, but it is not likely that
robots will replace human contact and social interaction between doctors and patients.
Another challenge is to train doctors and patients to use AI since not everyone is open
to information given by a machine. Thus, we need to implement the acceptance of
learning AI in every actors in health sectors though education regarding the use of AI
itself. And last but not least, it has been a global concern that AI has a potential risk in
patients safety. Since AI is considered new, it has the potential to be less accurate and
reliable thereby putting patients at risk of misdiagnosing and incorrect treatment plan.
Therefore, we cannot rely only on AI, medical professional still need to be the one
who make decisions based on their knowledge and AI is just a tool to help diagnose
patients. Finland believes that the goal is not just to improve AIs integrity, reliability,
and accuracy day by day but also remember to improve knowledge of the leading
actors in health sector.

4
Formin.finland.fi. (2017). Ulkoasiainministeri. [online] Available at:
http://formin.finland.fi [Accessed 4 Oct. 2017].