Revolutionizing Healthcare Access in Underserved Areas with AI and Data-driven Insights
In this article, we explore the challenges faced by healthcare providers in rural areas and the need for improved infrastructure, telemedicine initiatives, and better emergency response systems in underserved regions.
The story of Dr. Nondi Faridah, the only doctor serving a community of almost 1,000 people in a small town in Ogu Bolo, Nigeria is often told with unbearable grief. Despite her dedication, limited resources, and a shortage of healthcare professionals, Dr. Faridah faced insurmountable obstacles when a severe blizzard cut off communication and isolated the community.
Unfortunately, Dr. Faridah’s condition worsened without access to specialized equipment or medical expertise, and she ultimately passed away due to her illness. This tragic event shed light on the dire consequences of limited healthcare access in remote areas and sparked a nationwide discussion on the urgent need for improved healthcare infrastructure, telemedicine initiatives, and better emergency response systems.
In most third-world countries, healthcare challenges are often intractable due to underdevelopment and inadequate technological and infrastructural investments by governments. However, we focus on finding solutions and leveraging the adaptable leeway provided by technology.
The impact on the Ele community in our story informs the need to deploy young doctors to such areas. While this carries some risks, such as the rise of unconventional medical practices and self-medication, it also provides valuable exposure to community medicine, which is an integral part of undergraduate medical training.
The World Health Organization estimates a severe shortage of healthcare professionals in sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria being the hardest hit. By 2030, the projected shortfall is expected to reach 14 million healthcare providers. Addressing the access disparity in healthcare is crucial to synchronize healthcare delivery, ensuring that distance is no longer a barrier.
In countries like India and Nigeria, where a significant number of people live in extreme poverty, the number of doctors has increased from 2011 to 2021. In India, there were an estimated 860,000 doctors in 2011, while in Nigeria, the number was estimated at 25,000. By 2021, the number of doctors trained in India and Nigeria had witnessed a significant increase, with a near 50% and 40% rise respectively, reaching 1.3 million and 35,000.
Figure 1 illustrates the number of doctors in India and Nigeria in 2011 and 2021.
However, a 2021 report by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) revealed that an estimated 100,000 Indian doctors have migrated from India in the past decade. The report further highlighted a 50% increase in the number of Indian doctors migrating to the United States over the past five years. Similarly, Nigeria has experienced a loss of approximately 10,000 doctors, according to a report by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). The United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada emerged as the most popular destinations for Nigerian doctors migrating abroad.
Figure 2 presents the number of migrant doctors from India and Nigeria between 2011 and 2021.
Several factors contribute to the uneven distribution of healthcare professionals, including geographic, socioeconomic, and infrastructural aspects. For instance, healthcare facilities tend to concentrate in urban areas, leaving rural areas underserved. Additionally, issues related to poor amenities like roads, schools, internet networks, and electricity in rural areas can influence migration patterns.
Migration driven by socioeconomic factors is often highlighted as the primary reason, although other triggers are also dependent on infrastructure. In first-world and developed countries, healthcare delivery efficiency relies on well-designed buildings, robust physical infrastructure, state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and imaging equipment, comprehensive treatment and surgical facilities, medication management, rehabilitation and therapy services, patient support services, and infection control centers to prevent nosocomial infections.
The protracted problems of healthcare are profound, but the solutions are not far-fetched. With artificial intelligence and a data-driven approach, we have a wealth of useful information and fast tools to iterate solutions until we arrive at satisfactory outcomes. There are significant access gaps in healthcare, particularly due to the scarcity induced by poor resource optimization. However, AI-powered algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data in seconds, identify these gaps, allocate resources efficiently, and ensure that underserved areas receive the healthcare support they deserve.
Harnessing AI for Healthcare Resource Allocation
AI algorithms enable us to analyze extensive healthcare data, including patient records, demographics, predictive disease analytics, patient throughput, and hospital resource management. By predicting future patient volumes, AI models can judiciously allocate scarce resources such as hospital beds, staffing levels, and medical supplies to meet future demand.
Prioritization (triage) becomes more efficient in an AI-managed system, where AI-analyzed disease prognosis, medical history, and vital signs provide recommendations on the urgency of care. Optimal resource deployment ensures that emergency and priority cases receive prompt attention.
AI can benefit other ancillary services as well. Staff scheduling becomes less stressful as algorithms consider the allocated work time and expertise for each worker. Interpretation of radiology reports can be expedited, reducing the time required for patients to receive a diagnosis and treatment.
Supply Chain Management (SCM) in healthcare plays a pivotal role in efficient service provision. For example, Viebeg Technologies, a healthcare startup in Rwanda backed by the African Development Bank, utilizes artificial intelligence to manage supply chain processes, ensuring precision in the delivery of medical supplies. Supply chain management algorithms like Viebeg’s optimize inventory management and other supply chain operations, leveraging historical supply data, demand patterns, and external factors to accurately predict supply needs and maintain efficient inventory levels.
Telemedicine and Remote Treatment Monitoring
Telemedicine and remote monitoring can be particularly useful in provinces with a sufficient level of technological sophistication, especially for geriatric patients. Considering the specific needs and cultural context of underserved communities helps plan effective healthcare delivery. In advanced societies, AI-powered chatbots, mobile apps, and voice assistants can deliver healthcare information and promote preventive care.
Numerous examples demonstrate the effectiveness of AI in telemedicine and remote consultation. Mediktor, a Spanish healthtech company, raised $11 million in seed funding in 2021 to expand its operations globally. Mediktor employs AI-modulated triage sequencing, utilizing natural language processing technology to guide patients to the appropriate level of care. By analyzing patients’ unstructured data and matching symptoms with pre-installed predictive parameters, Mediktor delivers the right prognosis within minutes.
Countries like Canada and Norway, where the chance of seeing a doctor on the first visit is high, can benefit from startups like Mediktor, as it reduces hospital visits to emergency cases or critical situations requiring direct patient contact. However, this leverage comes with risks, including misuse or abuse of the solution. Professional oversight is necessary to address concerns such as inadequate supervision, self-medication, inappropriate doses, misinterpretation of symptoms, and the risk of dependence.
In conclusion, it is crucial for AI enthusiasts to recognize the potential of AI and data-driven systems in revolutionizing healthcare access in underserved areas. By leveraging health informatics and technology, we can pave the way for transformative advancements, ensuring that quality healthcare reaches every corner of the globe. Bridging the access gaps requires continuous innovation, strategic implementation, empowerment of remote communities, and enhancement of the well-being of marginalized people. Equitable healthcare is a fundamental right for all.
Author’s Note: This blog post was AI-guided. However, it was the product of a delightful collaboration with my trusty AI assistant. The human touch added creativity and context, while the AI contributed its algorithmic prowess.
For all inquiries, collaborations, and engaging discussions, connect by sending an email to joshuakayceogbonna@gmail.com. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of the AI healthcare revolution! Act now and open the door to endless possibilities.
