Islamabad: A new AI-enabled MRI scanner has been installed at Kulsum International Hospital, a development that Minister of State Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Malik said reflects a growing shift towards technology-led diagnostics in Pakistan’s private health sector.
Speaking after inaugurating the Siemens Magnetom Flow 1.5 Tesla MRI, he said most private hospitals are still slow to upgrade diagnostic infrastructure despite advances in AI imaging being used worldwide.
“Pakistan has already committed to a digital health transition, but technology only matters when patients actually start benefiting from faster and more accurate diagnosis,” he said.
The system, which uses artificial intelligence to enhance scan precision and cut reporting time for radiologists, is among the first of its kind in a private facility in Islamabad. Health professionals at the event said AI-based radiology tools are expected to change clinical workflows by reducing human error in imaging interpretation.
Dr Mukhtar Malik said the COVID-19 response exposed weaknesses in the country’s data and diagnostic systems. “Hospitals need to move away from outdated imaging setups. Without reliable scan data and digital reporting systems, governments cannot plan or respond to disease trends,” he said.
He acknowledged that public hospitals continue to struggle with basic imaging capacity, leaving patients dependent on private centres for critical scans. He said the government can only regulate and create policy frameworks, while investment in modern machines will continue to come from the private sector.
Hospital officials said the new scanner is expected to reduce dependency on older imaging units that face frequent breakdowns and slow reporting turnaround.
The inauguration was attended by senior doctors and members of the Saif family who run the facility.
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