IDRC at the 2024 Global Symposium on Health Systems Research
The theme of the symposium is “Building just and sustainable health systems: Centering people and protecting the planet.” The focus is on how to make data and evidence available and accessible for action by health actors and decision-makers to make health services more accessible, especially to vulnerable populations, and enhance prevention and control efforts for global health threats.
IDRC-supported researchers, partners and staff will participate in several sessions, workshops and side events during the symposium.
Bridging the gap: From AI innovations to health care transformation in low- and middle-income countries
Wednesday, November 20 | 14:10-17:40 (JST) | Venue: Room 101 (B), Dejima Messe Nagasaki convention centre
In this workshop, IDRC Senior Program Specialist Chaitali Sinha, Cintia Cejas from the Center for Implementation and Innovation in Health Policies (Argentina), Noor Rakhshani from Precision Health Consultants (Pakistan) and Elizabeth Oseku from the Infectious Diseases Institute (Uganda) will co-moderate a panel highlighting the following projects:
- Innovation hub in Latin America and the Caribbean on using artificial intelligence to improve sexual, reproductive and maternal health represented by Adolfo Rubenstein, Center for Implementation and Innovation in Health Policies, Argentina
- Responsive and responsible artificial intelligence for improving sexual, reproductive and maternal health in South Asia represented by Mohammed Imran, Precision Health Consultants (PHC), Pakistan
- Innovation hub in the Middle East and North Africa on using artificial intelligence to improve sexual, reproductive and maternal health represented by Nadine Sabra, American University of Beirut, Lebanon
- Innovation hub on artificial intelligence for sexual, reproductive, and maternal health in Africa represented by Elizabeth Oseku
- Supporting responsible AI for global health represented by Peiling Yap, HealthAI, Switzerland
- Enhancing the impact of artificial intelligence for global health through knowledge sharing and translation represented by Salvia Zeeshan, The Global Health Network, UK
- Artificial Intelligence applications to support epidemic and pandemic prevention, preparedness and response represented by Jude Kong, University of Toronto, Canada
The aim is to present and discuss the progress and challenges of low‐ and middle-income countries regarding artificial intelligence (AI) research and implementation in the field of health. It will include reflections on real cases as well as the presentation of ongoing projects supported by the AI for Global Health (AI4GH) initiative.
Navigating responsible AI for equitable and just health systems in the Global South
Thursday, November 21 | 11:40-13:10 (JST) | Venue: Room 110, Dejima Messe Nagasaki convention centre
IDRC-supported researchers across the AI4GH initiative will discuss opportunities and challenges related to the development of responsible AI tools. Experiences from teams across the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Africa and Asia will shape the contours of the discussion. Moderated by Mohammed Imran from PHC, the session will feature real-world examples such as:
- Jacaranda Health, on how a scaled AI-enabled system can help strengthen respectful and quality maternal and newborn health (represented by Anneka Wickramanayake).
- The Global South AI for Pandemic & Epidemic Preparedness and Response (AI4PEP), on developing localized AI-enabled solutions to strengthen health system responses to climate change and other drivers of disease outbreaks (represented by Jude Kong).
- Four regional innovation hubs focused on using AI-enabled solutions to improve sexual, reproductive and maternal health outcomes across the Global South – in Africa represented by Elizabeth Oseku, LAC represented by Cintia Cejas, the Middle East represented by Nour El Arnaout and Asia represented by Mohammad Imran.
AI4GH: Achievements, Lessons Learned and Way Forward
Thursday, November 21 | 14:00-16:00 (JST) | Venue: Kapiteinskamer I and II, Hilton Hotel
Hosted by IDRC, this session will involve co-funders of AI4GH, UK International Development, as well as speakers across different projects and innovation hubs comprising AI4GH.
Other IDRC grantees across many regions will be present in Nagasaki to discuss their research efforts. For example:
- Ten members of the Gender Transformation for Africa network will discuss projects that examine the root causes of gender inequality and poor sexual, reproductive and maternal health outcomes, via panels, posters and through the Emerging Voices network that features young health systems researchers, leaders, health activists and other change agents.
- The Learning together to advance Evidence and Equity in Policymaking to achieve the SDGs in Africa (LEEPS) initiative will be represented by speakers from Kenya and Malawi.
- Several researchers from the LAC region will present their work on the intersections of mental health and sexual and reproductive health, working with Indigenous groups and adolescents, representing research projects in Argentina, Guatemala and Mexico.
IDRC’s involvement with the symposium extends beyond the conference to include ongoing assistance to emerging researchers through tailored mentorship programs and support to facilitate publishing of high-quality research predominantly led from the Global South.