Q&A: Harnessing AI’s potential to transform the delivery of health care

An auxiliary nurse midwife uses digital technology to capture pulse-ox and hemoglobin readings and other essential information from a pregnant woman during an antenatal care visit in Udaipur, India. The readings are automatically loaded into a patient’s electronic medical record. Photo: Jhpiego/Wendy Taylor Click the image above to read the full visual story.

Development organizations looking to make use of artificial intelligence and data analytics tools should start by understanding the problems facing the end user, according to Wendy Taylor, Jhpiego’s vice president of technical leadership and innovation.

The use of digital and data solutions for global health is not new. But the COVID-19 pandemic led to huge leaps forward in their usage, especially in areas such as telehealth and advanced outbreak analytics, Taylor explained. From helping governments prevent deadly disease outbreaks to supporting community health workers treating patients in remote areas, the uses of AI-enabled tools and analytics in global health and development more broadly are only set to grow. “If we’re thoughtful, if we're smart and strategic, I think there are huge opportunities to push these new frontiers,” said Taylor.

In an interview with Devex, Taylor outlined some of the current cutting-edge uses of AI and data analytics in global health, and what’s needed to successfully roll out these types of innovative digital tools.

Read the full visual Q&A.