Overcoming Barriers: Financing and Service Delivery for Vaccination in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States
Implementing Health Tech for UHC: Real-World Lessons from PMAC 2025
ต้องการข้อมูลเพิ่มเติม ติดต่อฝ่ายสื่อสารองค์กร HITAP
The rapid advancement of technology is reshaping global health, offering new opportunities to strengthen health systems. The Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2025, under the theme of “Harnessing Technologies in an Age of AI to Build a Healthier World,” provided invaluable insights into the complex interplay of technology and healthcare. The Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP) Foundation played a crucial role in these discussions, and this blog highlights key takeaways from the conference, with a focus on three pivotal sessions related to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and HITAP Foundation’s contributions in this area.
Plenary 1: Exploring the Role of Technology in Strengthening Health Systems and UHC
Global experts from Plenary 1 during the discussion
HITAP Foundation, in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the National University of Singapore (NUS), the World Bank Group (WBG), and the National Health Security Office (NHSO), hosted Plenary 1 “Achieving Positive Connections through Technological Innovations for Healthier Populations, Strengthened Health Systems, and Universal Health Coverage”. The session set the stage for discussions on the technology trends and potential solutions to accelerate progress toward UHC.
Leading experts shared impactful case studies on the real-world application of technology in health systems. Deepali Khanna, Vice President at The Rockefeller Foundation, emphasized the power of technology to improve healthcare worker communication and expand networks for better data access. The Rockefeller Foundation’s partnership with UNICEF to create a data-driven application that provides real-time information for public health workers, enhancing communication and data accessibility across teams. This highlights the importance of data-driven decision-making in public health and the role of technology in strengthening health information systems.
Hani Kim, Executive Director of the Right Foundation, shared how AI-powered blood tests in Korea revolutionized malaria diagnostics, which led to government funding and support for AI-driven healthcare initiatives. This underscores the importance of investment in health technologies. Furthermore, Toomas Palu, Adviser at the World Health Organization (WHO), focused on Estonia’s success with telemedicine during the pandemic, demonstrating how the Digital Service framework expanded healthcare access through mobile devices. However, he stressed that successful digital health initiatives, especially those involving mobile technology, require data and funding sharing between relevant agencies, addressing legal permissions, and training health workers to use and integrate these technologies effectively. These factors are fundamental to achieving UHC, enabling equitable access to quality care by facilitating informed decision-making, ensuring resource availability for implementation, and building the capacity to deliver effective services.
While these examples highlight the potential of health technology, they also emphasized the need to address the challenges related to data privacy, regulatory framework, and system readiness. Plenary 1 served as a reminder that technology is a powerful tool, but its potential can only be realized through careful planning, ethical considerations, and a commitment to equity. A collaborative and evidence-based approach, incorporating rigorous evaluation and a focus on health system strengthening, will be essential to ensure that technology truly serves the goal of UHC.
Parallel Session 1.1: Global Approaches to Health Financing: Technology Solutions for UHC
Building on the discussion of technology’s potential in Plenary 1, Parallel Session 1.1: “Innovative Technologies to Leverage Health Financing for UHC” explored the specific challenges and opportunities in health financing. This session presented real-world case studies, focusing on both the potential and implementation challenges of using digital health technology for sustainable and equitable health financing. Speakers from Estonia, the Philippines, Indonesia, the United States, and Thailand shared their experiences. Moderated by Inke Mathauer, Senior Health Financing Advisor at WHO, the session highlighted the following key messages:
Toomas Palu from WHO
Estonia: Streamlining Claims Management and Strengthening Financial Protection
Toomas Palu highlighted Estonia’s digital health infrastructure as a model for leveraging automation in claims management and enhancing financial protection through real-time cost-sharing calculations. Supported by strong political commitment and the integration of existing databases, this initiative has expanded coverage and reduced the financial burden on patients. Additionally, Estonia utilizes claims data for ongoing health system monitoring, underscoring the importance of a comprehensive, data-driven approach to healthcare management.
Akihito Watabe from the Asian Development Bank
Philippines: Combating Financial Irregularities
Akihito Watabe, a Health Specialist from Human and Social Development Office of Sectors Group Asian Development Bank, Philippines shared the optimizing on health financing through digital solutions to combat fraud, waste, and abuse. To address these issues, the digital technology offers potential solutions such as data analytics and AI for identifying suspicious patterns, blockchain for enhanced security, biometrics for secure identification, telehealth monitoring, AI-powered claim analysis, automated surveillance, and compliance software. Examples from multiple countries illustrate the effective implementation of these technologies. Watabe recommended implementing comprehensive digital solutions, including data management, analytical tools, reporting software, and robust security measures.
Trisna Sari from BPJS Kesehatan
Indonesia: Expanding Access with Mobile Technology
Trisna Sari from BPJS Kesehatan also shared Indonesia’s experience using “Mobile Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN)” application to address administrative challenges and expand access to health insurance. Key features related to health financing include a risk-sharing program (Rehab) for self-paying members, auto-debit registration, simplified member registration, and access to nearby health facilities, appointment booking, and medical history. Mobile JKN has the potential to be a key tool for achieving UHC, but addressing these challenges is crucial. While usage is significant, Indonesia is working to overcome challenges like digital literacy gaps and connectivity issues to fully realize its potential.
Tiranee Achalakul from Big Data Institute, Thailand
Tiranee Achalakul, President of Big Data Institute from Thailand, shared that Thailand is developing a national health data system to support the “Anywhere Primary Care” program, enabling Thai patients to receive treatment at any primary care facility and improving healthcare efficiency. A key challenge is data fragmentation across multiple ministries and legal complexities surrounding data sharing. Thailand is taking a decentralized approach, similar to Estonia’s X-Road, where data stays at its source and is linked via APIs when needed. This system, called Health Link, allows authorized providers to access patient records from different hospitals with patient consent. Beyond record access, this data infrastructure supports electronic referrals, personal health records (PHR) via a mobile application, and big data analytics.
Additionally, the Big Data Institute collaborates with the Ministry of Public Health and NHSO to analyze claims data for targeted health programs, preventative care, and budget allocation. However, challenges remain, particularly in establishing clearer legal frameworks and improving governance for health data integration, alongside the limitations of the current opt-in consent system.
Mark Jit from New York University School of Global Public Health, USA
Advanced Analytics for Public Health Intelligence
To adapt AI with public health, Mark Jit, a Chair and Professor of the Department of Global and Environmental Health of New York University School of Global Public Health, USA, recommended to focused on how advancements in data analytics, driven by increasing computing power (Moore’s Law), are transforming public health intelligence, including applications relevant to health financing.
Mark Jit defines “advanced analytics” as data-driven models used for projection and decision-making, ranging from mechanistic models, SIR models to machine learning and the less explainable generative AI. These analytics support public health decisions, including health technology assessments (HTA), real-time pandemic response, and various uses of machine learning in health financing (e.g., claims review, fraud detection). He emphasizes that increasing computing power enables more sophisticated, real-time analysis, exemplified by Bayesian inference and automated data processing, with AI further automating these processes.
Closing Summary: Setting a Direction for Responsible Health Technology Integration
While the previous sessions explored specific applications and challenges of health technology, the closing summary session at PMAC 2025 provided a crucial synthesis of the conference’s key themes, highlighting the potential of technology in healthcare while acknowledging its inherent risks. Rapporteurs highlighted the rapidly growing AI market in healthcare and its diverse applications, including AI-powered diagnostics, telehealth platforms, and tools for optimizing healthcare workforce deployment. However, they also emphasized the critical need to address challenges such as data bias, governance gaps, and data privacy and security. The session called for a structured approach to AI governance, emphasizing equitable access to the benefits of AI, clarifying stakeholder roles, and maintaining transparency in the face of rapid technological advancements. Education and curriculum development for future healthcare professionals in the age of AI were also highlighted, along with the need for appropriate regulation and broader engagement in AI investment from various sectors.
Key rapporteurs led the discussion in the closing summary session
Additionally, the closing summary advocated the role of HTA. Participants stressed that even the most promising health interventions may be impractical without thorough HTA, including early assessments to guide timely and informed adoption decisions. The importance of evaluating not only efficacy and cost-effectiveness but also the ethical and equity implications of health technologies was emphasized.
These discussions align closely with HITAP Foundation’s core mission and expertise. Key points such as HTA, cost-effectiveness, equity, and ethical considerations resonate with HITAP Foundation’s focus on rigorous evaluation and responsible health technology adoption. The challenges related to infrastructure and governance highlighted in the closing summary also connect with HITAP Foundation’s work in health systems strengthening. The emphasis on collaboration further reflects HITAP Foundation’s own collaborative approach to achieving sustainable healthcare solutions.
PMAC 2025 highlighted both the promise and the challenges of health tech. To realize its potential, a balanced and evidence-based approach is crucial. Explore HITAP Foundation’s resources on HTA and health systems strengthening to learn more.
17 February 2025
