Nearly a third of British doctors are now using artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT in patient consultations, a landmark study has revealed, sparking a fierce debate about a technology that is spreading rapidly in a regulatory “wild west.”

This surge in the UK provides a critical glimpse into a future that could reshape Kenyan healthcare. While promising to ease the burden on an over-stretched system, it also raises urgent questions about patient safety, data privacy, and the need for clear government oversight.

A Tool for Overworked Doctors

The study, conducted by the Nuffield Trust thinktank, found that 28% of 2,108 surveyed General Practitioners (GPs) use AI for clinical notes, administrative tasks, and even to help with diagnoses. The report notes this adoption is driven by a desire to manage heavy workloads, a pressure Kenyan medical professionals know all too well.

However, the same UK doctors expressed significant fears about the technology, highlighting risks that are just as relevant in Nairobi as in London:

• Professional liability and potential lawsuits
• Risks of clinical errors from faulty AI advice
• Patient privacy and data security vulnerabilities

Kenya's Cautious Embrace of AI

While the UK's adoption seems haphazard, Kenya is taking a more measured approach. The integration of AI in the nation's healthcare is still in its early stages but is marked by innovative applications in diagnostics and mobile health. Health experts have called the technology a potential "game changer," and several startups are already deploying AI to connect patients with doctors and expand mental health services.

The Kenyan government has singled out healthcare as a priority for its national AI strategy. Dr. Tom Menge of the Ministry of Health has emphasised the need to embrace AI diagnostics while cautioning practitioners on ethical and equitable access. This official recognition is crucial, as Africa faces a significant shortage of healthcare workers, with roughly three doctors per 10,000 people, compared to 34 in high-income countries.

Building Guardrails for a Digital Future

Unlike the UK's current free-for-all, Kenya has foundational legal frameworks that can guide AI's use, including the Data Protection Act and the 2023 Digital Health Act. The latter aims to create a regulatory framework for digital health and establish an integrated national health information system. Still, experts warn of significant hurdles, including a lack of quality data, public mistrust, and the potential for algorithmic bias, especially when AI models are trained on data from the Global North.

The government is now in the final stages of developing a comprehensive AI policy to ensure its ethical integration into the health sector. As the UK grapples with its AI 'wild west,' Kenya stands at a crossroads: to learn from this experiment and build a system with strong guardrails, or risk repeating its mistakes. The health of millions may depend on the path it chooses.