Tanzania steps up AI drive in healthcare amid data privacy push
Tanzanian health officials are pushing for the integration of AI into the national healthcare system while warning against 'digital colonialism'. The government emphasizes the need for locally generated data to ensure AI tools are relevant to the Tanzanian environment.
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Addresses the critical intersection of emerging technology, data sovereignty, and healthcare equity in developing nations.
Dodoma/Dar. The government has called for the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into Tanzania’s healthcare transformation agenda, warning that weak data protection systems could expose the country to digital colonialism.
Speaking during the opening of the Scientific Health Conference (USCHe) organised by the University of Dodoma (UDOM), Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Emmanuel Tayari said modern healthcare development could not ignore the growing role of AI.
Representing the Minister for Health, Mr Tayari said technological advancement provides an opportunity to improve healthcare delivery, particularly amid shortages of health professionals, laboratory experts, biologists and data analysts.
He said AI should be used to enhance the capacity of existing professionals rather than replace them.
“AI can support health data analysis, disease prediction, patient information management and decision-making based on large volumes of data,” he said.
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