Digital health and AI offer transformative potential for healthcare, improving efficiency and access. However, successful implementation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) requires careful consideration, as highlighted by Ho Quang Chanh et al. Their paper, based on the Viet Nam ICU Translational Applications Laboratory (VITAL) project, emphasizes engagement with policymakers, patients, and healthcare workers, alongside seamless integration with existing systems.
VITAL, a collaboration between OUCRU, Imperial College London, and the University of Oxford with the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (Ho Chi Minh City), developed an AI-driven clinical decision support system and wearable technology for dengue management in Vietnam. Vietnam's nascent digital health infrastructure presents challenges: data limitations, system integration complexities, understanding end-user needs, and navigating the regulatory landscape.
Ho Quang Chanh emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach: “Digital health needs to fit within an ecosystem of moving parts…Working within the local context is crucial.” Successful digital health initiatives in LMICs must address these challenges to ensure sustainable impact and benefit local patients and healthcare professionals.
