Post by Dr. Nithya Ramanathan

The 79th World Health Assembly is underway in Geneva. Health sovereignty and the rapidly-changing global financing landscape are top of mind. As leaders strive to do more with less and extend essential healthcare coverage to reach more people in increasingly fragile places, innovation – especially AI innovation – is asked to carry more and more weight. While AI for clinical care gets a lot of attention, Operational AI must not be overlooked. What is Operational AI for healthcare? It’s an innovation approach for applied AI that recognizes the value of data from key assets within the health system: medical equipment, solar panels, power outlets, transport vehicles, ambulances, the cold chain… The list goes on. With optimal application, this data can have a profound impact on improving human health. It can tell us what’s broken, where the holes are in a given system or supply chain, and where money and resources might be best spent to do the most good. My Nexleaf Analytics co-founder Martin Lukac wrote a great primer on Operational AI for healthcare here: https://lnkd.in/g9RbgZWg Today clinical applications of AI are generating a lot of buzz. But the sad reality is that healthcare infrastructure often lags far behind this capacity. An app that accurately diagnoses cancer is not useful if the only chemotherapy infusion machine in the district is broken, or if a dysfunctional cold chain can’t keep the drugs safe. AI-enabled neonatal incubators can’t help newborns if the electricity goes out for hours every day. Operational AI for healthcare deserves serious investment, resources, and attention. It’s a clear application of emerging technology. But it lacks funding opportunities and donor cachet. Modern healthcare requires functional equipment and available electricity. That’s why Operational AI for healthcare matters, and why more donors should invest in these cutting-edge solutions. #WorldHealthAssembly #WHA79 #OperationalAI #AIForGood #TechForGood