Physiologists have called on healthcare professionals to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool to enhance service delivery, while also urging the government to improve the remuneration of health workers to curb brain drain.
The call was made at the yearly conference of the Physiological Society of Nigeria (PSN), hosted by the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, with the theme: “Artificial Intelligence in Physiology: Exploring the Intersection of Intelligence and Life.”
Delivering the keynote address, Chief Executive Officer of RAIN Robotics, Dr Olusola Ayoola, explained that AI should not be seen as a threat but as a powerful complement to medical practice. “AI is not here to replace us but to enhance how we practise our jobs. Whether we like it or not, AI has come to stay,” he said.
Ayoola highlighted AI’s potential in early disease outbreak detection through analysis of electronic health records, as well as its usefulness in providing non-judgmental support to patients who may be reluctant to disclose sensitive information to familiar healthcare providers.
However, he cautioned health professionals to become “educated consumers of AI,” stressing the need to critically evaluate emerging technologies and advocate for responsible adoption that prioritises patient well-being and equity.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Bolanle Iranloye, described the convergence of physiology and AI as a “scientific crossroads” with immense potential. “This intersection holds great promise for advancing our understanding of health, enhancing biomedical research, and reshaping healthcare delivery in Nigeria and across the world,” she said.
PSN President, Prof. Abdul Alada, used the occasion to appeal to federal and state governments to review the pay structure of health workers, linking poor remuneration directly to the worsening brain drain.
“Even monthly emoluments have become contracted, leading to many trained physiologists leaving the shores of the country,” Alada lamented. He also urged the government to conclude negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and to prioritise research funding and provision of equipment to build the capacity of young physiologists.
Adding his voice, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru observed that salaries of professors in Nigerian universities remain “abysmally low” at around $360 per month, describing the situation as one of government indifference rather than lack of resources.
He also challenged senior academics to focus on mentoring the next generation. “A professor is not known by what he professes but by how many professors he has helped to mentor into leadership,” Ashiru said.
