The World Bank has announced an ambitious goal to deliver affordable healthcare to 1.5 billion people by 2030, highlighting the urgent need to close the global healthcare gap.
The World Bank President, Ajay Banga, disclosed this in a statement sighted by Pharmanewsonline as displayed by GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 4.5 billion people lack full access to healthcare, largely due to a severe shortage of medical workers. The WHO projects a deficit of 10 million health workers by 2030, primarily affecting low- and middle-income countries.
President Banga emphasised the importance of collaboration in achieving this goal, stating that, “Providing a basic standard of care for people throughout their lives is critical for development. This ambition won’t be realised with a solo effort. It will require partners, a coalition of public and private sectors, working together to expand access to healthcare services.”
Research by the World Economic Forum (WEF) suggests that generative AI could help alleviate the workforce shortage by automating tasks such as transcribing patient visits, analyzing data, and providing health information. The WEF report indicates that AI can boost the productivity of existing healthcare staff, allowing them to handle more patients with limited resources.
In addition to tackling the workforce shortage, global initiatives are focused on closing the gender health gap and expanding treatment access for degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. These efforts are crucial as organisations work toward expanding healthcare coverage worldwide.
