Empowering the Health Workforce Through AI

Digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are increasingly becoming essential tools in the modern health workforce’s arsenal. Among their many advantages, these innovations have the potential to dramatically enhance training, increase efficiency, reduce costs and minimize errors. However, greater consideration must be given during the development and implementation of digital innovations to prioritize user-centered, practical tools that enhance care delivery.

AI holds significant promise for diagnostics, clinical decision support, and combating misinformation, but realizing this potential requires strengthening country readiness and addressing persistent mistrust of these technologies. Furthermore, what works in one context may not be effective in another. Health workers must be placed at the center of AI and digital innovation through co-design, deliberate AI readiness planning, and South-to-South and South-to-North learning to ensure solutions are equitable, context-appropriate, and culturally relevant.

At the same time, partners from the private sector, donors, multilateral institutions and academia bring essential capital, expertise, and innovation capacity, making collaboration critical. In this context, more inclusive data practices and ethical governance frameworks must also be strengthened. This session will examine what is needed to ensure digital tools empower—rather than replace—health workers and strengthen resilient, equitable health systems.