Fourth World Health Forum opens in Beijing to discuss AI’s role in healthcare

The Fourth World Health Forum, an event of significant international collaboration and innovation, commenced in Beijing on the 2nd of November, 2024. Hosted by Tsinghua University, this year’s forum is centred around the theme, “AI Empowers the Future of Health,” focusing on how artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionise public health and global health standards.

Spanning two days, the event has attracted over 200 participants, including experts, government officials, leaders from international organisations, and industry professionals from 18 countries and regions. The objective is to share insights, identify trends, and deliberate on AI’s potential to drive healthcare innovation and create a healthier future for global societies.

At the forum’s opening ceremony, He Wei, the chairman of the Red Cross Society of China, articulated the strides China has made in employing AI and information technology to enhance healthcare accessibility in rural sectors through novel “smart and remote” healthcare models. He noted the indispensable role AI plays in overcoming healthcare challenges and stressed the necessity for a cooperative approach between scientists and policymakers to ensure these technologies are applied responsibly on a worldwide scale.

Qiu Yong, chairman of the Tsinghua University Council and a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, reiterated the university’s commitment to pioneering AI research for health promotion and well-being. He highlighted the vital role universities hold as “guardians and inheritors of human civilisation,” tasked with fostering health, societal progress, and technological advancement through nurturing talent and innovation.

Shen Hongbing, vice-minister of the National Health Commission and director of the National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control, echoed the relevance of the forum’s focus on AI, particularly regarding its implications for healthcare advancements. He acknowledged that the forum offers a significant platform to explore how AI and digital technologies can push forward public health systems globally, setting out new collaborative pathways for healthcare.

Margaret Chan, founding dean of the Vanke School of Public Health at Tsinghua University and former director general of the World Health Organization, underscored AI’s transformative potential, particularly in tackling public health issues like obesity. However, she emphasised that while AI generates valuable insights, meaningful progress depends on addressing broader systemic issues such as unhealthy food environments and social inequities. She also highlighted the importance of deploying AI ethically and inclusively to bridge healthcare access gaps.

Wang Shi, honorary chairman and founder of Vanke Co., Ltd., elaborated on the intersection between climate change and human health, focusing on challenges like pollution, food and water security, and mental health. He introduced a carbon-neutral community model that advocates for sustainable, healthy living and urged for global cooperation to tackle the interlinked issues of climate and health through AI and interdisciplinary research.

The forum’s schedule includes a variety of sessions such as a plenary session, focused discussions on AI applications in major disease prevention and control, and AI’s role in cultivating interdisciplinary public health talents. A Youth Forum is also featured, emphasizing the contribution of young people in propelling health and technological innovations.

First launched by Tsinghua University in 2021, the World Health Forum aims to facilitate dialogue and academic exchanges, fostering capacity-building for global health governance in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and striving towards a global health community for all.

Source: Noah Wire Services