TAPSA conducts Symposium to Discuss AI in Solving Healthcare Challenges

Esther Kisanga, TAPSA Tanzania

Tanzania Pharmaceutical Students Association (TAPSA), in collaboration with other students’
professional organizations in Tanzania, hosted its first ever Students Symposium for Debate
on April 24th, 2019.
The Symposium, hosted at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Dar-es-
Salaam, gathered over 400 students, experts and professionals interested in fundamental
advances and applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare. It featured a four-hour
event, filled with keynote addresses, presentations, a well- structured debate on whether or
not AI could be the answer to Tanzania healthcare challenges, a panel discussion, and time
for networking and socializing. It was shown that AI can be considered as option that will
augment the current capacity to handle healthcare challenges but it is not an absolute
solution as it is still in its infancy.
The symposium, now an annual event, aims to continue facilitating discussions and the
exchange of ideas in improving healthcare through emerging technologies and innovations
and how the healthcare stakeholders like pharmacists should start to prepare and adapting
these new technologies that they create a positive impact.

Figure 1 Panelists of the Students Symposium for Debate along with the President of
Tanzania Pharmaceutical Students Association (TAPSA), Castory Munishi (standing far right)
Figure 2 Debate participants awarded by Infinix following an active and very engaging
debate session

Figure 3 Students from various universities listening to presentations on projects integrating

AI in their innovations to improve healthcare in Tanzania

Following the symposium, a 24-hour hackathon was conducted in June 15 th to 16th June
2019 to allow innovative students to develop AI based solutions to selected healthcare
challenges in Tanzania. Example of projects developed includes an AI based diagnostic
supportive system, an integrated health medical record that could learn from patient’s data
and a chatbot to help in addressing mental health challenges. The winning teams were
allowed to pitch during the MUHAS Annual Scientific Conference where one team was
announced the overall winner. Some ideas developed during the period have been applied
for global competitions like the Hultz Prize and are currently undergoing further
development.