China’s top epidemiologist highlights role of AI in fighting Covid-19

Beijing, Jul 9 (EFE).- The head of China’s team of medical experts in the fight against Covid-19 said Friday that Artificial Intelligence has achieved good results during the pandemic in aspects such as early warning, traceability and prevention.

At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, renowned Chinese pulmonologist and epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan in a video highlighted the support provided by AI to prevent and diagnose diseases, allocate resources and reduce costs.

The doctor spoke about China’s future health strategy, which will focus on the initial phases to “keep our citizens healthy, support them getting sick less often, or have minor illnesses only.”

In recent years, Zhong recalled, the expansion of AI and other new-generation technologies in the health sector has accelerated in China following guidelines from the authorities.

He said the National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and various institutions and AI organizations dedicated to artificial intelligence collaborated to develop the so-called “Cloud Platform for AI-Based Respiratory Health Big Data” and a prediction system for pandemic control as well as AI Covid imaging recognition and drug screening, among other things.

Last September, the expert was awarded the Medal of the Republic, the highest honor in the country, for his role in the fight against the coronavirus. EFE

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