DECEMBERASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK8NEWSROOMJapan's government is set to approve a 21.9 trillion yen ($141 billion) fiscal spending package aimed at providing relief to households impacted by rising prices, according to public broadcaster NHK.The total value of the economic stimulus package, including contributions from the private sector, will reach 39 trillion yen. Out of this, 13.9 trillion yen will be allocated from the government's general account, NHK reported, citing unnamed sources.A significant breakthrough for the package came on Wednesday when Japan's ruling coalition finalized an agreement with a major opposition party on the draft proposal. The stimulus package is designed to mitigate the financial burden on households amid persistent inflationary pressures.The package's approval is part of Japan's broader strategy to stimulate the economy and protect consumers as global economic uncertainties continue to impact markets. Artificial intelligence (AI) is paving the way for improved pneumonia treatment by aiding in antibiotic prescription decisions. Patients' symptom information will be analyzed by an AI system to determine whether their condition is caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Based on this analysis, the system will recommend if antibiotics, which are effective only for bacterial infections, are needed. It will also suggest the specific antibiotic and the appropriate dose tailored to the patient's clinical data.Development and Pilot Study The AI solution, known as Augmented Intelligence in Infectious Diseases (AI2D), was developed by Singapore General Hospital (SGH) in collaboration with DXC Technology and Synapxe, Singapore's national health tech agency. Pneumonia, a leading global cause of death and the fourth largest cause of hospitalization in Singapore, was chosen as the initial focus due to its potential to become severe quickly, according to Dr. Piotr Chlebicki, a senior consultant in SGH's Department of Infectious Diseases.AI2D was trained using data from 8,000 SGH patients treated between 2019 and 2020, which included:- X-rays - Clinical symptoms - Periodic vital signs - Trends in body responses to infection The model was validated with data from 2,000 additional cases in 2023. During its pilot study, AI2D accurately identified the need for antibiotics upon a patient's first diagnosis in 90 percent of cases. JAPANESE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES A MAMMOTH $141B STIMULUS PACKAGESINGAPORE CLINICS HARNESS AI TO IMPROVE ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIPTIONS
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