OGSM 2024 deep dives into the role of AI in women’s health

The 31st Congress of the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia (OGSM) took place at Sabah International Convention Centre in Kota Kinabalu on 4–7 July 2024. The congress with the theme of “Intelligence in O&G: Real or Artificial?” explored the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in women’s health from adolescent onwards and included both obstetrics and gynecology.

OGSM’s President Elect 2023-2024 Dr Muniswaran Ganeshan, also the Organizing and Scientific Chair of OGSM 2024, highlighted that the congress was enhanced by a record number of delegates, faculty, abstract submissions, scientific engagements and support from the industry partners. “… we at OGSM … hope we have met your expectations while being true and relevant to the needs of our diverse members. In ensuring that we are still deeply rooted to our tradition, despite scientific advancements in the digital world, we have decided to preserve [the] congress booklet as a memento of what has transpired at this congress for your own reference,” he said.

The organizing committee created a unique academic engagement in keeping with the evolution of the O&G specialty, with a theme dedicated to AI and inaugurally supported by an intelligent host. The science related to human and AI was discussed in depth covering every aspect of women’s health from adolescent and beyond incorporating both obstetrics and gynecology. Distinguished clinical experts from around the world and in Malaysia were selected in order to keep to the high standards of OGSM as they continue to champion and elevate the standards of care of women’s health in Malaysia and in the region.

According to OGSM’s President Professor Dr Nazimah Idris, AI has been said to be one of the most significant innovations of the century. It has the strengths of speed, consistency, pattern recognition and ability to multitask better than most humans. “In the application of AI, healthcare is perhaps its most pressing, if we are to achieve the quadruple aims of improved population health, improved patient experience, enhanced caregiver experience and at the same time reduce the rising cost of care,” she said.

She added that healthcare professionals (HCPs) should be able to harness the potential of AI to enhance their lives, improve service efficiency and manage complex challenges. However, she cautioned that HCPs should not lose sight of the irreplaceable qualities of human intelligence such as creativity, emotional understanding, and ethical judgement. The relationship between human intelligence and AI is therefore not about one being superior to the other, but about synergy, she noted.

The congress started off with three concurrent pre-congress workshops on 4 July. The opening ceremony of the congress on 5 July featured the launch of the OGSM application, followed by the OGSM Presidential Lecture, two plenary sessions as well as the I.S. Puvan Memorial Lecture. Concurrent symposia and sponsored symposia covered a wide range of O&G topics, gala dinner and the conference concluded with the awards and closing ceremony.

Unmet needs in women’s health

Nazimah presented the OGSM Presidential Lecture where she highlighted the unmet health needs which can be overcome with education of both women and HCPs. Improved awareness, health literacy, health-seeking behaviors and decision making can potentially enhance health, productivity and earning potential for women. Concurrently, education can enable HCPs to advocate for women’s health, offer better treatment solutions, and use technology to innovate and support women’s health, she said.

The World Economic Forum 2024 defined gender health gaps is related to the inequity in healthcare between genders and quantified in terms of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and years lost to disability (YLD). When the gaps in women’s health are closed, 3.9 billion women around the world stand to gain 7 healthy days a year amounting to an average of 500 days over a lifetime. Also, addressing women’s health gaps not only improves their quality of life but also that of society and future generations, and enables them to earn an income.

While women live longer than men in Malaysia—75.8 vs 71.3 years in 2022—about 9 years is spent in poor health and disability. As a result, it affects their ability to be present and productive, be it at home, in the workforce, and as a member of the community. This will consequently affect their work, career development and earning potential. Thus, a long and healthy life for women should be the aim, not just a long life, said Nazimah.

She noted that the reasons for women’s health gaps included underestimation of health burdens often thought of as normal conditions such as menstrual problems, and lack of investment for research interest and data generation for women’s medical conditions. Lack of data on women’s medical conditions in turn causes poor understanding, hence resulting in diagnostic delays and suboptimal treatment. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 found the health burdens women faced where there are inequalities can be divided into four main types (Table 1).