Under the harsh realities of war-torn southern Lebanon, where resources are scant and healthcare infrastructures are struggling, innovative solutions are essential. Rhazes AI, a health tech startup operating out of London and Qatar, has initiated a noteworthy pilot project at Al Hamshari Hospital. The initiative brings AI-powered tools into one of the most demanding medical environments imaginable. With demand on the hospital increasing due to regional conflicts, this pilot aims to relieve healthcare workers by significantly reducing their administrative workload.
Modern healthcare in challenging environments is not new territory for technology like that offered by Rhazes AI. The use of AI to streamline hospital workflows has seen gradual acceptance over the years, with varying levels of success. Initially, AI interventions were primarily seen in developed healthcare systems where resources supported such innovations. Yet, in resource-constrained settings like Al Hamshari Hospital, these initiatives reflect a shift towards technology being an indispensable part of healthcare, offering potentially transformative changes in frontline care.
What Leads Rhazes AI into Lebanon’s Strained Health System?
The new pilot program targets Al Hamshari Hospital, which serves the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. Encountering rising casualties amid ongoing regional conflicts, the hospital often works beyond its capacity. With limited medical staff, including 56 doctors and 31 nurses to care for over 4,000 patients each month, the hospital is under immense strain. Rhazes AI’s intervention seeks to improve care by deploying an AI clinical assistant designed to handle tasks like transcription, diagnosis support, and medical documentation more effectively.
How Does Rhazes AI’s Assistant Function in Practice?
The AI clinical assistant developed by Rhazes AI is implemented in the hospital’s outpatient and emergency departments. It efficiently functions in low-resource settings and assists healthcare professionals by transcribing consultations in real-time, automating documentation, and providing diagnostic support. The AI tool aims to reduce stress, helping doctors manage over 60 patients a day by focusing on patient care rather than paperwork.
Additionally, it generates structured summaries and admits notes, aiding in billing and offering insights from patient histories. By alleviating the administrative burden from doctors, the tool enhances clinical effectiveness, facilitating more timely and quality patient care.
“This isn’t about replacing doctors; it’s about surrounding them with support. When a young doctor is trying to manage dozens of complex cases a day, every second counts,” remarks Al-Fagih of Rhazes AI. This approach equips doctors to focus more on the patient aspect rather than paperwork.
Indeed, Rhazes AI’s initiative is expected to run from August to November 2025, aiming to assess its impact on various metrics like documentation time, decision-making confidence, and patient flow. The controlled implementation trial sets the stage for broader integration of AI in similar settings.
Reflecting on this innovative step, the use of AI in healthcare, particularly in locations with limited resources, reveals new opportunities and challenges for the industry. As effective healthcare delivery remains a core challenge globally, the importance of adapting technological advancements becomes more evident. The outcome of this pilot could provide crucial insights for future deployments of AI in challenging medical environments.
