Medical advancements of all time usually include the development of antibiotics, which has saved millions of lives against infection, and anaesthesia, allowing people to undergo surgery under sedation instead of having to face it awake.
However, they also include engineering feats, such as the development of precision medical equipment and technologies, as these have enabled all the science to be put into practice.
For instance, medical imaging has revolutionised the sector, starting with the introduction of X-ray machines in 1895.
Since then, computed tomography (CT) scanners and magnetic resonance image (MRI) were invented, providing detailed images of parts of the body. These have become diagnostic tools, helping physicians to see whether there are tumours, damage to the brain or spinal cord, cysts, or heart and liver problems, and the extent of the issues.
Ultrasounds have also changed prenatal care, and since they were introduced in the 1950s, they have been able to detect abnormalities in the womb and provide valuable information about a foetus from the moment of conception till birth.
More recently, artificial intelligence (AI) has had a huge role to play in providing diagnostic support for doctors.
This technology, while in its infancy, has already been used to offer diagnoses, analyse data, monitor patients, and personalise treatment plans.
Recently, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) revealed that AI is going to provide a treatment programme for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Patients who are unable to receive face-to-face rehabilitation will be able to benefit from the treatment through the digital platform instead, teaching them exercise programmes so they can manage their condition better.
AI can also provide chatbots for patients to use when they can not access medical care, and could help in the discovery of new drugs, which will enhance patient outcomes in the future.