Is global health AI ready?

AI has the potential to reshape public health systems and to improve population health. But AI can’t create value on its own—it amplifies the systems it sits on. That’s why the foundations of health systems have never been more important: complete data, interconnected systems, and insights that trigger action. 

At the 79th meeting of the World Health Assembly, Vital Strategies will be launching an updated report helping countries answer a critical question: Is public health AI ready? We’ll be convening conversations to provide guidance on how countries can strengthen their public health systems and deliver the promise of AI.

Launch Event

PILLARS: Public Health Infrastructure & Learning Laboratory for AI Readiness

Thank you to Pan American Health Organization, Africa CDC, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, for co-hosting the kick-off of PILLARs.

It was an honor to hear how countries are reimagining their public health systems in the AI era. We were honored to hear from  Dr. Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Jr, Vasilis Koulolias, Adelheid Onyango, Catharina Boehmeand representatives from ministries including HE. Prof Lem Dara, Mary Muthoni, CBS, HSC., Alessandra Dahmer, Dr Ovuoraye John, Gerhard Situmorang, Dr. Adichan Chuajinda, Dr. Vida Makundi Mmbaga, MD, MPH, Msc. and Mohiuddin Al Helal.

We’re looking forward to expanding this new South-South learning exchange and action platform to build the foundations that enable AI readiness.

Learn more about PILLARs and how to join the network:

New Report

Foundations & Futures: Reimagining Public Health in the Artificial Intelligence Era Across the Global South

AI cannot compensate for weak public health systems. It can only build on what is already institutionally, digitally, and politically in place.

That’s the bottom line from the latest edition of Foundations & Futures, which includes:

• Interviews with more than 2 dozen experts
• An AI-readiness scan of over
  83 countries
• Scan of 200+ AI-related public health use cases across Africa, Asia and Latin America

Spotlights from Rwanda, India, Rio de Janeiro, and Recife anchor the report, illustrating what becomes possible when foundations and AI promise align.

Event

The Lifesaving Potential of Death Data

Wednesday, May 20, 8 AM
InterContinental Geneve

Death data is foundational to public health and national governance. At the World Health Assembly, join the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative for a timely discussion with senior leaders from ministries of health, WHO and CDC on how they communicate the importance of mortality data to political and financial decision-makers beyond the health sector.

Where We’ll Be @ WHA79:

• May 17: NIMS University—Advancing Innovation and Investment for Equitable Global Health Impact
• May 18: World Health Organization, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Resolve to Save Lives—Evidence to action: Preventing lead poisoning to save lives
• May 19: Livelihood Impact Fund—Funding Opportunity: Expanding Eye Care Through Government Health Systems
• May 21: Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic policy forum—Addressing the Disproportionate Impact of CKM Conditions on Women’s Wellness
• May 21: Devex Impact House—Leapfrogging to AI-enabled health systems: Can LMICs lead the way?