The founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Advantage health, Abimbola Adebakin who described digital innovation in health as an augment of physical interactions with health system, said it is improving access to healthcare delivery.
In a interview ahead of the highly anticipated Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA), renowned expert Dr. Adebakin shared her valuable insights on the future of digital innovation in the health sector. Her contributions shed light on the transformative potential of technology and its ability to revolutionize healthcare delivery.
Abimbola Adebakin who doubles as co-leads on Transforming Health in Africa through digital Innovation emphasized the importance of embracing cutting-edge technologies to improve patient care and facilitate more efficient healthcare systems.
Despite challenges with impacts in terms of innovation, she noted that health expects are beginning to monitor impacts because, “right now people are not able to order for their medicines. People are now able to use telemedicine for consultation. People are now able to stay in their homes and get their lab, their laboratory specimens taken from home and they can get the results by email”.
The impacts of these digital innovation, she said, have been measured currently, and those are the kind of things that needs to begin to highlight at the CHPIA conference for public health in Africa.
On policy and regulatory frameworks that need to be in place to support the widespread adoption of digital health innovations policy and regulatory frameworks, Abimbola said, “the need for data accountability for data protection. Well, now that then looking at our data, our things have to be captured in electronic records in return means we need to put in place the right policies to protect the patients as well as protect the health care providers”.
She stressed the importance of maintaining patient privacy and security while harnessing the power of technology. The need for robust regulations and policies to protect patient data was also highlighted.
She also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence (AI), telemedicine, and wearable devices as catalysts for change in the industry, citing an example, when you take some AI monitored scanners and take it to women that are pregnant in the rural areas who are far away from scanning machines, what you’ve done is you’ve taken care to the point, which is needed.
Dr. Abimbola indicated that by leveraging machine learning algorithms, healthcare providers can gain deeper insights from patient data, leading to more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment plans.
Regarding telemedicine, Dr. Abimbola emphasized its ability to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare professionals, especially in remote areas. With telemedicine, patients can access quality healthcare services, irrespective of geographical limitations.
The co-leads for the track on digital Innovations in Health for the CPHIA 2023 added that the conference will also play a role in fostering innovation and driving the adoption of digital health solutions.
She disclosed that the conference is in its third year, and will dive deeper and some insights around health care across the continent from all these next nine tracks in Public health compared to the previous conference, “We have nine trucks covering epidemiology and diagnostics, covering women in health, health system strengthening, covering digital health and many more”.
She assured that the conference will serve as a the chance for attendees to forge partnerships.
“We have big institutions that are investing millions of dollars in innovation in Africa, but we also have mid-sized to small sized institutions, some which are not for profit, who have partners across the continent so that will break the silence. There are also civil organizations present at the conference and they are looking for partners to come over with that in mind, to learn, and also to find credible partners that you can work with”, she added.
Again, she asserted that the convening power of the African CDC will bring together a growing number of practicing firms and they have life experience to demonstrate to anyone coming from all across Africa.
This, she said is important that the Africa led initiative like this is promoting digital health where you can see incredible example to take from and take back and deploy.
Additionally, Dr. Abimbola said the conference will bring a lot more scientific papers that have been analyzed and are going to be showcased and therefore they are getting more insight on what people are working on that attendees can tap into.
The annual Conference is being hosted by the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the African Union in partnership with Zambia Ministry of Health.
This year’s conference is scheduled for 27-30 November 2023 in Lusaka, Zambia, and it will take a more forward-looking approach, highlighting how stakeholders across the continent are breaking barriers and disrupting the status quo through cutting-edge science and programming under the theme “Breaking Barriers: Repositioning Africa in the global health architecture.”
Background
The annual International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) provides a unique African-led platform for leaders across the continent to reflect on lessons learned in health and science, and align on a way forward for creating more resilient health systems.
Expanding the horizons of the conference once again, cphia2023 will showcase how the continent is breaking down barriers, reaffirming Africa as a powerhouse in science and innovation, generator of new knowledge and health products, and exemplar of progress.
As African countries accelerate the realization of a New Public Health Order, this year’s conference will help to build a healthier, more prosperous Africa – for the continent, and the world.
