emirates7 - M42, a global leader in AI-powered healthcare, is calling on healthcare, technology, and academic leaders to shift the focus of the healthcare industry from treating illness to preventing it. In a keynote speech at the 7th Annual Longevity Forum, M42's Managing Director and Group CEO, Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, highlighted the growing global healthcare crisis, with projections showing healthcare spending could reach $10 trillion by 2026. He stressed that the current model of treating sickness is unsustainable and urged global leaders to collaborate on AI and genomics to advance prevention.

Al Nowais shared how M42 is disrupting traditional healthcare models by integrating AI solutions into patient care, such as its open-access clinical large language model, Med42, and an AI-powered chest X-ray for early tuberculosis detection. He also discussed how M42's Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi uses AI in colon cancer screening, where algorithms analyze endoscopic images to detect abnormalities and assist doctors in personalizing treatment plans.

Al Nowais emphasized the transformative potential of genetic testing and genomics in preventive medicine, enabling healthcare providers to make early, personalized interventions based on a patient’s unique DNA. He cited the case of a 36-year-old patient, who, despite negative genetic results for colon cancer, discovered a BRCA1 gene mutation, which prompted proactive cancer prevention measures.

Al Nowais called on global leaders to unite in the fight against disease, stressing that prevention is key to addressing global health disparities. He underscored that healthcare advancements must be accessible to everyone, regardless of location or economic status, and that collaboration across borders and sectors is essential for progress. "The future of healthcare is prevention, and the future of prevention is collaboration," he concluded, urging collective action to transform healthcare and benefit humanity.