Rebuilding Trust and Planetary Health

I was thrilled to have received an invitation to speak at the World Economic Forum hosted by The Global Forum, PDIE Group  Group, and Schmidt Futures. The side session was titled "Achieving Planetary Health & Energy Security: The Contribution of AI & Digitization,"

The intersection of AI, climate change, energy and health was an interesting collision of different views, ideas, technologies and societal needs that prompted great discussions.

Artificial Intelligence

I spoke about climate change and Artificial Intelligence in health and the potential of large language models and generative AI technology to help reimagine how healthcare is delivered. With the launch of our AI-powered XR medical education platform Medical Realities, I firmly believe that AI will help with both the delivery and assessment of global medical education. Over the past few years, there have been numerous discussions on the themes of metaverse, blockchain, and AI, which are all essential components of Web 3.0. It was a pleasure to also discuss Aimedis Avalon Metaverse, the world's first health metaverse that incorporates all of these exponential technologies to redefine virtual healthcare.

Climate change and Health

2023 was the warmest year on record, and climate change is increasingly contributing to humanitarian emergencies from heatwaves, wildfires, floods, tropical storms and hurricanes, which are increasing in scale, frequency and intensity.

It is estimated that 3.6 billion people live in areas highly susceptible to climate change. Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress alone. The direct damage costs to health are estimated to be between US$ 2–4 billion annually by 2030.

The changing climate conditions are causing an increase in heat-related illnesses and deaths, spreading infectious diseases, and making deadly disease outbreaks and pandemics more likely. This is also affecting the health of mothers and children and intensifying health impacts from extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, wildfires, and windstorms. Moreover, the climate crisis is also rapidly deteriorating access to basic human needs such as food security, safe drinking water, sanitation, and clean air. As per the new World Bank data, a warmer climate could lead to at least 21 million additional deaths by 2050 caused by just five health risks: extreme heat, stunting, diarrhoea, malaria, and dengue. The health systems are also under pressure due to such climate changes as they must deal with an increased demand for health services while also struggling to respond effectively.

Energy

The conversation was fascinating from the discussion of a new battery that promises to be more efficient, lighter, more powerful and one that is carbon neutral. It sounds too good to be true, but it is worth keeping an eye on Lyten with their sulphur-powered technology. They are building their first Gigafactory in California. Imagine if this battery could power medical devices such as pacemakers.

Smart City

One of the more interesting projects was that of NEOM, the city of the future in northwest Saudi Arabia. I am well versed with this incredible project and Neom were well represented at Davos with a large exhibition showcasing the vision of the kingdom. The project should be ready in some format by 2030. In terms of health, NEOM aims to build an integrated health, well-being and biotech ecosystem that will exceed traditional medical care with a patient-centric model.  To recreate a new healthcare system is exciting and I look forward to seeing what models are used for delivery and reimbursement and how digital technologies are incorporated.

Trust

Over the next two years, misinformation will be the main concern for society, which is evident across social media and news channels.

The theme for The World Economic Forum theme this year was “rebuilding trust.” With the global turmoil of climate change, geopolitical unrest and economic insecurity, trust in government has never been lower. What about trust in health?

Healthcare trust refers to individuals' confidence and belief in the healthcare system, healthcare providers, and the treatments they receive. It is a fundamental component of the patient-provider relationship and is crucial in ensuring effective healthcare delivery and positive health outcomes. Healthcare trust encompasses several key aspects:

First and foremost, patients must trust their doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to provide competent, compassionate, and ethical care. Trust in the expertise and judgment of healthcare providers is essential for patients to feel comfortable discussing their health concerns and following medical recommendations.

More broadly speaking, trust in the healthcare system involves confidence in the fairness, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare services. Patients should believe they can access healthcare when needed, receive unbiased treatment, and respect their privacy and rights. 

Data is a crucial aspect of healthcare, but it also raises concerns about trust. Patients need accurate and reliable medical information to make informed decisions about their health. Trust in sources of medical information, such as healthcare professionals, medical literature, and reputable health organisations, is vital to ensure patients receive accurate guidance and recommendations. However, data ownership and confidentiality remain fundamental challenges for healthcare systems. The future may involve a decentralised system with patients owning their data.

Trust in hospitals, clinics, and healthcare organisations involves confidence in the quality and safety of the facilities and services provided. Patients should feel that they will receive appropriate care and that their well-being is a top priority. Patients must believe that the healthcare system operates with integrity and transparency. This includes trust in regulatory bodies, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and other entities involved in healthcare. Patients should feel confident that these organisations prioritise patient well-being over profit.

Building trust is obviously important, but measuring trust is equally important and challenging. The research relies on surveys or interviews and focuses on patients’ trust in doctors. There is little work on differences in trust in doctors rather than nurses, or trust in health care teams or organisations.

Most research on healthcare trust focuses on surveys or interviews, primarily concentrating on patients' trust in doctors. However, there is a lack of research on the differences in trust between doctors and nurses or on understanding trust in healthcare teams or organisations. It would be advantageous to conduct more studies in these areas using experimental studies, qualitative and mixed-methods measures, and longitudinal research.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the WEF. Davos brings the world's most incredible minds together, and ideas that may seem incongruent at first soon coalesce into real, actionable solutions that are truly exponential.