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The Ministry of Health and Population has warned against public reliance on artificial intelligence applications for medical diagnosis, stressing that such tools cannot replace qualified physicians and may pose serious risks to patient safety.

In a statement issued, the ministry’s official spokesperson, Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, said that despite rapid technological advances, AI-based health applications lack the clinical expertise and human judgment required to accurately assess medical conditions, particularly in complex or emergency cases.

The warning comes amid the growing use of digital platforms and AI tools that claim to offer fast and low-cost medical diagnoses, a trend that officials say could lead to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, or inappropriate medication.

According to the ministry, artificial intelligence should be viewed strictly as a supporting tool for data collection and analysis, not as a diagnostic authority. Abdel Ghaffar cautioned that AI systems can produce inaccurate outputs, including what experts describe as “digital hallucinations,” which could potentially lead to incorrect medical conclusions or unsafe drug recommendations.

The ministry stressed that such errors represent a direct threat to public health, particularly when individuals substitute AI guidance for professional medical consultation.

To counter these risks, the ministry reaffirmed the availability of safe and reliable alternatives, including its official digital health platforms and the hotline 105, which connects citizens with licensed physicians and medical specialists around the clock.

It also said it is intensifying monitoring of the digital space to curb unauthorized medical practices by unlicensed entities, urging citizens to seek health information exclusively from official sources and accredited medical professionals.

“Public health does not tolerate experimentation or risk,” the statement said, warning that attempts to save time or money by avoiding hospital visits cannot substitute for proper medical evaluation, especially in cases involving overlapping or ambiguous symptoms.

The ministry concluded by urging citizens to remain cautious of misleading online medical claims, reiterating that accurate diagnosis and treatment depend on trained physicians with clinical experience and sound medical judgment.

Source: Al-Ahram Online