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Release Date 27.02.2026

 SURVEYS & REVIEWES

 

 

 

Kislitsyna Olga

doctor habilitatus in economics, chief research fellow

Institute of economics of the Russian Academy of sciences (Moscow), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4144-237X

 

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HEALTHCARE: «MEDICINE» OR «POISON»?

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The cost of medical treatment is increasing worldwide due to population growth, aging, the spread of chronic diseases, expanded access to healthcare, and the rising cost of technologies and pharmaceuticals. Against this backdrop, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important. AI is used in diagnostics, drug development, surgery, administrative processes, rehabilitation, personalized treatment, and telemedicine. It accelerates processes, reduces costs, and improves the accuracy and quality of care. However, its use is subject to debate. The aim of this study is to identify the benefits and risks of using AI in healthcare based on an analysis of publications in Russian and English. It has been established that the introduction of AI into healthcare provides various medical benefits (decision support, personalized treatment, disease prediction, improved surgical accuracy, mental health assistance), as well as economic and social advantages (cost reduction, increased accessibility, automation of tasks, faster diagnostics, expansion of patient capabilities through wearable devices). The risks of AI can be grouped into ethical and policy-legal risks (possible errors and lack of accountability, loss of empathy, excessive dependence on AI, threats to privacy and national security, lack of legal frameworks and regulatory standards), socio-economic risks (high implementation costs, the risk of increasing inequality and the digital divide, resistance from doctors and patients), and technological risks (limited and biased data, insufficient transparency and reliability of models, difficulties in integrating AI into clinical practice). Thus, AI has enormous potential in healthcare, but its implementation is associated with serious challenges. For now, the risks predominate; therefore, its use should be gradual, with clear oversight and well-defined ethical and legal frameworks.

 

Keywords: artificial intelligence, healthcare, medical technologies, advantages, disadvantages

 

JEL: I11, I18, M15, O14, O31

UDC: 614.2, 004.89

DOI: 10.52342/2587-7666VTE_2026_1_215_227

 

©  О. Kislitsyna, 2026

© Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences «Issues of Theoretical Economics», 2026

 

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Manuscript submission date: 16.11.2025

Manuscript acceptance date: 09.12.2025

 

For citation:

Kislitsyna O. Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: «Medicine» or «Poison»? // Voprosy teoreticheskoy ekonomiki. 2026. No. 1. Pp. 215–227. DOI: 10.52342/2587-7666VTE_2026_1_215_227