Opinion: Advancing health literacy through AI in patient care

Written by Doctor Hussain Jafri

Executive Director, World Patients Alliance.

The ever-increasing pressure of Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs) is estimated to cumulate in a global economic loss of $47 trillion over the course of the next two decades [1]. In addition to the prevalence of chronic disease, we are also predicted to witness a global shortfall of 10 million physicians, nurses and midwives by 2030. What this makes clear to me is that the sheer number of patients in the world can’t be seen by primary care professionals alone [2].

Taking a patient centric approach

Fortunately, we are experiencing a paradigm shift in health systems as the role of patients evolves from being a passive recipient of care to becoming an active participant in their own healthcare journey. Yet, still today most parts of the world design healthcare around treating a disease rather than prioritizing the patient’s quality of life.

I firmly believe we need to empower patients to engage with their healthcare provider, so that they reach informed decisions together and develop a treatment plan that considers their values, needs and preferences. 

This patient centred approach is not only shown to improve health outcomes but also increases ownership of the healthcare routine resulting in better self-management which reduces the frequency of follow ups, leaving the physician more time to consult more critical cases.

Integrating new technologies for personalised care

But not all patients have access to the resources they need to make such active contributions for their healthcare journey. There are many socio-economic disparities such as language barriers, health literacy levels and education that impact patients’ abilities to engage effectively in their care. In order to develop the kind of collaborative relationship that would be required between patients and providers, we must first make sure education is available so that people understand the importance of their own health, what services are available to them and how they can navigate local health systems.

For me, one of the main advantages of new technologies is their potential to be used as an educational tool. The internet and social media have drastically improved people’s access to information and health devices like wearables have improved transparency making it easier for us to actively monitor our health and proactively seek out interventions when we notice irregularities. Of all these new tools, I believe that AI will revolutionize health literacy and the way health information is delivered.

AI is already reshaping health systems’ approach to care with providers integrating it to support diagnostic services, streamline hospital workflows and reduce the amount of time consumed by administrative tasks like data entry [3]. Predictive analysis tools mean interventions can be delivered in real time so that what I want as a patient can be tailored to me.

Generative AI can instantly translate complex medical jargon into simplified learnings for people to digest, and it can be used to power chatbots or virtual assistants so patients can obtain basic health information in the way they are most likely to understand.

This personalised delivery of information is of great use to patient organisations as well, as we play an active role in disseminating information or awareness campaigns in a more targeted manner, to provide health education initiatives that reach all levels within a community. AI removes the complexities that impede understanding and we can then make sure good communication channels remain available to keep patients and healthcare providers in open dialogue.

Of course, it is important to consider the challenges some patients will have in accessing an electronic device capable of connecting them with these AI tools, and the ethical considerations go beyond this digital divide too. From issues like securing data privacy and algorithm biases we will need to ensure the highest levels of transparency, accountability and equitability when deploying AI. Much like any new technology it must be used responsibly in a way that maximizes benefits while minimizing any potential risks.

Achieving big wins for UHC

AI has tremendous potential to promote positive health outcomes by reducing inefficiencies and advancing health literacy, but it remains up to us to act on the information it provides and ensure health facilities are accessible to patients without incurring financial hardship. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) therefore remains a paramount goal for all of us, but one that will not be achieved if we ignore efforts to prevent disease by remaining uniquely focused on treatment.

Any patient centric approach would prioritize self-care as it promotes the maintenance and monitoring of health even in marginalised and underserved populations. Patients empowered by self-care have a reduced dependency on health systems, notably for conditions like diabetes, obesity or sexual and reproductive health, meaning they avoid the cost expenditures of unnecessary consultations while still benefiting from early detection and timely interventions.  

If we’re going to use self-care to improve health system resilience in this way, we need to foster a culture of partnerships and collaboration, which is why so much of our focus as a patient organisation goes towards getting stakeholders onboard with empowering, involving, and engaging patients. Together we can work hand in hand to achieve better health outcomes all over the world.

About the Author

Hussain Jafri is the Executive Director of World Patients’ Alliance. He is also the Secretary General of Alzheimer’s Pakistan, the national association of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias that Hussain founded in 1999 as a result of his experiences as a care giver for his grandfather with Alzheimer’s Disease. He has been very active in the field of patient safety and has remined the Vice Chair of Advisory Group of WHO’s Patients for Patients Safety Program (PFPS). Hussain has also founded Pakistan Patient Safety Initiative and has been working towards several patient safety initiatives. The Government of the Punjab has also nominated him the Provincial Focal Person on Patients Safety & Quality and given the responsibility of developing patients safety and quality services in the health sector of the Punjab province.

He has remarkable experience of working as a volunteer in the social sector and has had an opportunity of working with government, national and international non-profit organizations. Hussain is also a member of the Person and Family Centred Advisory Council (PFCAC) of International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua). Moreover, he is also a taskforce member of Global Alliance of Partners for Pain Advocacy (GAPPA). He is an experienced speaker and a resource person and has been presenting nationally and internationally on different issues like patient safety, patients centred healthcare, care giving, advocacy, partnership in health, organizational development, etc. Hussain is a PhD from University of Leeds, UK on prevention of genetic disorders. He is currently working as the Director General of Punjab Thalassaemia & Other Genetic Disorders Prevention & Research Institute and has published several publications in international indexed journals

[1] The Global Economic Consequences of Selected Surgical Diseases. PMC PubMed Central.

[2] WHO Renews Alert on Safeguards for Health Worker Recruitment. World Health Organization 2023.

[3] How AI Can Transform Patient Care and Treatment. World Economic Forum 2024.