Novartis Foundation on how AI can help uplift health of low income households

The global health challenges faced by countries today are unprecedented, with a shortage of health professionals, rapid urbanization, and a burden of infectious and chronic diseases. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a pressing need to reorganize health systems to be more proactive and preventive rather than reactive. Dr. Ann Aerts, Head of Novartis Foundation, emphasizes that artificial intelligence (AI) presents a unique opportunity to transform healthcare delivery. AI is not just a concept of the future but is already making significant strides in revolutionizing health systems globally. The use of AI can help countries leapfrog from reactive healthcare to proactive and predictive systems, especially benefiting low-income countries. By re-engineering the delivery of healthcare services, countries can build leaner, tech-integrated health systems that improve diagnostic accuracy, predict epidemics, optimize resource allocation, and enhance overall population health. The cost of implementing AI in healthcare is a major consideration for many countries. However, investing in enhancing digital skills, connectivity, and quality data sets is crucial for successful integration of AI. Dr. Aerts highlights that upfront investments in these areas can ultimately reduce healthcare costs by expanding access to underserved populations through digital health services. She cites the example of Rwanda, where a public-private partnership has successfully provided telemedicine services to a third of the population, now augmented with AI decision support to optimize patient care. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of leveraging AI to reach more people efficiently and effectively, transcending geographical barriers and maximizing the impact of healthcare services.