Artificial intelligence can transform global health, but only if developed and deployed with equity in mind.
This was a message from two global health experts featured in the latest Global Health Matter podcast episode, “AI for Equity: Bridging Global Health Gaps.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9x__dqhxh8
“In the future, remote working doctors will have the best cardiologists in the world, the best pneumatics in the world, and are ready to answer questions.
His team is developing mobile apps that allow frontline doctors to access AI tools through their smartphones, even in areas without electronic medical records.
South Korean lawmaker and doctor Jiho Cha has a similar vision. He believes that AI can expand health services in a vulnerable environment where there is a shortage of doctors and the health system is overwhelmed.
“Ai-powered information systems combined with FinTech or blockchain technology can improve health financing and delivery,” says Cha.
He explained how AI can support nurses and community healthcare professionals by increasing diagnostic and decision-making capabilities.
However, both experts warned that the same technology may widen the gap if not carefully processed.
“Leaving AI alone will likely increase inequality,” warned Philho, noting that algorithms trained in wealthy groups tend to be worse in low-income groups.
They said the challenge is to ensure that AI is trained with diverse, locally relevant data and accessible in a low-resource configuration. Otherwise, the digital gap deepens.
“We have a huge opportunity for our hands,” Fillo said. “But we need to make sure that AI works where it needs it most.”
Listen to previous episodes of the Global Health Matters Podcast with Dr. Gary Aslanyan.
Image credit: Global Health Matters podcast.
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