As Asia's healthcare landscape undergoes rapid digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) is at the forefront, revolutionising diagnostics, streamlining patient care and reshaping insurance risk models.
AI-powered predictive analytics and real-time health monitoring are paving the way for more personalised, data-driven solutions that catch disease earlier, lower treatment costs and improve outcomes across the region.
Speakers at the 20th Asia Conference on Healthcare and Health Insurance, with a heavy focus on AI revolution, discussed how health insurance goes beyond simple automation, AI-driven innovations, regulatory considerations and solutions to augment insurers and the healthcare industry for a more resilient healthcare sector in Asia.
Delivering his welcoming remarks, Life Insurance Association of Malaysia former vice president and AmMetLife Insurance Malaysia CEO Rangam Bir said that the key word, both on the health and insurance side, is trust.
“As long as we are not able to establish that confidence and trust, there will always be challenges in terms of how technology adoption is seen in healthcare and health insurance. The pandemic has served as a powerful catalyst, prompting us to reimagine how healthcare is delivered, accessed and protected,” he said.
“Today, AI stands at the forefront, redefining not only how we diagnose and treat but also how we underwrite, price, cover and serve customers. We are at a pivotal point in the history of technological evolution, akin to the advent of telephones, computers, the internet and similar technologies that have transformed human society over decades,” Mr Bir said.
Since late last year, significant social and political discussions around healthcare costs and inflation-driven premium increases have highlighted the urgent need for meaningful reform. Without this, the system will continue to face unsustainable pressures.
“Upholding ethics, data privacy, and transparency is crucial in a domain as personal and vital as health and protection,” Mr Bir said.
IBNR Management Consulting managing director Rudolf Frei delved into the technical aspects and presented practical solutions for building a more sustainable approach to fraud management.
“Measuring the true extent of fraud is inherently difficult. We can only account for what we detect, which is a major challenge. Fraud presents several serious issues,” Mr Frei said.
“First, it’s not a victimless crime; there are often innocent people affected, including cases involving property damage or, in life and health insurance, even fatalities. Second, there is significant financial harm, with insurers bearing high investigation costs and resource burdens. Third, policyholders are impacted as fraud contributes to rising premiums year after year. And finally, fraud affects affordability, particularly in the health insurance space, making coverage less accessible to those who need it most,” he said.
The beauty of the integration of AI in healthcare was further explained by Global HealthTech Intelligence founding member and chief research officer Dario Heymann.
“Healthcare, like many other sectors, involves highly repetitive tasks- an area where AI excels. Whether it's writing reports or managing routine processes, AI can significantly improve efficiency. The key is to embrace the technology and explore how it can be effectively integrated into existing workflows, while being mindful of data privacy and information security,” Dr Heymann said.
“AI's potential is particularly powerful in healthcare due to the rising burden of administrative costs. Data shows just how significant this burden is, especially as populations grow sicker and require more complex care. Much of the administrative work is repetitive and time-consuming, making it ideal for automation. However, successful implementation depends on workforce readiness. Upskilling is essential, not only to ensure effective use of AI but also to help workers feel empowered, not threatened. Simply replacing staff, as seen in recent large-scale layoffs, only fosters fear. Instead, the focus should be on enabling the workforce to leverage AI as a tool to enhance their roles and deliver better outcomes,” he said.
The 20th Asia Conference on Healthcare and Health Insurance, organised by Asia Insurance Review and sponsored by flip.health, AXA, IBNR and Teladoc HEALTH, runs from 19-20 May 2025.