A Closer Look: The brave new world of high-tech health care

In A Closer Look, The National provides an in-depth take on one of the main stories of the week

From robots taking blood samples to a full-body MRI scan that claims it can detect hundreds of conditions, the high-tech future of health care is here.

Cutting-edge medical advances which aim to improve patient care and help us live longer lives have taken centre stage this week at Dubai's Arab Health.

But what are the benefits of this brave new world taking shape? And can the rise of robotics and artificial intelligence ever replace the all-important human touch?

Here, host Rory Reynolds hears from The National's Nick Webster on the rapid evolution of health services across the Emirates and beyond and what they mean for all of us.

Upgrades to MRI technology to help us live longer

Arab Health 2024 - in pictures

Tue Lehn-Schioler, chief executive of BrainCapture wearing the device which helps to diagnose epilepsy and other neuro problems at the Arab Health conference held at Dubai World Trade Centre. Pictures: Pawan Singh / The National
Dr Hidayath Ali Ansari, staff physician in the imaging institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said MRI scans can be expensive.
The scanning machine on display at the Siemens Healthineers stand at Arab Health.
The latest scanners are much sleeker and less cumbersome than the larger models of the past, one expert told The National.
Visitors descend on the Anfas stand at Arab Health.
Vivek Kanade, Managing Director of Siemens Healthineers for the Middle East and Africa with the latest MRI scanner at Arab Health 2024 in Dubai. Photo: Siemens