Can AI heal Asia’s workforce burnout? Experts urge balance between automation and empathy

AI could ease Asia’s growing healthcare workforce burnout, but only if introduced with strong safeguards and a clear respect for the human side of medicine, experts cautioned during an ImagineHealth panel today during GITEX DIGI HEALTH & BIOTECH Thailand in Bangkok.

The session, moderated by ImagineHealth CEO Henning Kalwa, brought together Dr. Tanat Incharoen (RSU International Hospital, Thailand), Dr. Joalin Lim (Agape-Life, Singapore) and Prof. Elena Chereneva (Russia).

Clinicians as orchestrators, not replacements

Dr. Lim stressed that AI should support, not replace, doctors. “A clinician leads the team to deliver the best treatment. AI should be seen as an instrument player, not as a replacement,” she said, adding that emotional care remains irreplaceable.

Burnout and mental health risks

Prof. Chereneva highlighted alarming mental health statistics: 97% of doctors experience chronic stress, 67% face depression, and 78% report hidden aggression. “Some even have thoughts of suicide,” she noted, warning that empathy and communication skills remain critical for quality care.

AI as relief – and a risk

Dr. Tanat pointed to administrative burdens as a major cause of burnout. AI-driven medical scribe systems, he said, can reduce repetitive data entry by capturing patient–doctor conversations and drafting documentation. But he cautioned that poorly trained systems can introduce risks: “If AI misses a critical laboratory result, it may attempt to generate numbers just to complete the document.”

Training and safeguards

The panel agreed clinicians must be trained not only to use AI but to maintain bedside manner despite growing reliance on screens. “Technology can enhance healthcare, but it must not replace it,” Dr. Lim said.

Prof. Chereneva called for safeguards for vulnerable groups: “We need technologies that monitor changes in cognitive behaviour. Preventing disorders will improve quality of life for both doctors and patients.”

The future of AI in healthcare

Looking ahead, Dr. Lim urged ASEAN nations to strengthen regulatory frameworks and testing. Prof. Chereneva warned: “Without human empathy, AI is not enough.” Dr. Tanat compared AI’s rise to the internet, predicting it will become unavoidable: “The focus should be on developing new skills.”

Conclusion

The panel agreed that AI can play a role in easing burnout by removing administrative burdens, but warned against over-reliance. Human empathy, rigorous oversight and strong regulation will determine whether AI lightens the load or reshapes burnout in new ways.