The World Health Organization (WHO), IDB and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have released version 2.0 of the Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Readiness Assessment Toolkit, highlighting how countries can assess their readiness to implement AI projects in their public health strategies.
The toolkit aims to help countries understand how to integrate AI into their health systems by providing a framework for analysing different aspects of infrastructure, data management, public engagement, evaluation, implementation, workforce and financing.
The 62-page report is divided into 10 sections and includes questions for countries to assess their AI readiness, as well as considerations and guidance for successful adoption.
There is also a section with links to policy documents that provide key concepts, metrics for monitoring AI implementation, and recommended actions to improve interoperability.
Countries will receive a strategic framework with guidance on identifying the pros and cons of deploying AI in public health, as well as ethical considerations to ensure AI is fair.
The toolkit is aligned with PAHO’s eight guiding principles for digital transformation in health and fleshes out a regional roadmap for digital transformation in the health sector.
Larger trends
The WHO has long recognised the benefits of using AI in healthcare.
In 2020, the organization launched a smoking cessation program called the Access to Smoking Cessation Initiative, pairing users with an AI virtual health worker for nicotine replacement treatment.
Earlier this year, the company announced the launch of a generative AI platform called SARAH (Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health). The genAI platform can communicate in eight languages and is designed to provide information on key health topics such as healthy lifestyle habits and mental health.
SARAH covers topics such as cancer, lung disease, diabetes and heart disease, and also inspires people to quit smoking, live an active lifestyle, eat healthy and reduce stress.
Additionally, in 2022, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) will launch an artificial intelligence program called Bridge2AI, through which $130 million will be invested over four years to accelerate the use of AI in biomedical and behavioral health research.
Last year, the UK partnered with genotyping companies OpenAI and Deep Mind to explore how the government can use AI to better deliver healthcare and education across the country.
The HIMSS AI in Healthcare Forum is scheduled to take place in Boston on September 5-6. More information and registration available here.
