Access to safe, effective and quality-assured health products and technologies is crucial for achieving universal health coverage and primary health care goals. The continued growth of the aging population; increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases; growing burden of mental health issues; climat...e change; shifting patterns of vector borne diseases, fungal disease and waterborne diseases; antimicrobial resistance; and new infectious hazards create an ongoing need for equitable access to safe, effective and quality-assured health products and technologies, and renewed investments in research and development for innovative health products and technologies.
The coronavirus pandemic exposed the inequalities in access to health products, highlighting the need for longer-term strategies to strengthen access to health products and technologies outside of and in emergency situations. While technological and scientific advances present an opportunity to increase access to health products and technologies, the risk of increasing inequality due to higher prices for new health products and technologies; the persisting problem of substandard and falsified medical products; a lack of skilled workforce in many low- and middle-income countries; and a lack of data for decisionmaking and for measuring progress present significant challenges.
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The Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence in Tanzania's Health Sector was developed through collaboration between multiple stakeholders, including government bodies, academic institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international partners. The framework demonstrates Tanzania’...s dedication to utilising digital technologies and AI to enhance healthcare delivery, facilitate data-driven decision-making, and bolster the resilience of the healthcare system. Although AI integration in Tanzania’s health sector is still in its infancy, a growing number of initiatives are highlighting its potential in clinical care, research, and system management. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with partners including the President’s Office (PORALG), Fondation Botnar, MUHAS, UDOM and PATH, has spearheaded this initiative with the aim of using AI to minimise errors, improve clinical outcomes and boost the efficiency of the health system.
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More than a quarter of the global population still cook meals over open fires and/or on simple stoves fuelled by firewood, agricultural waste, dried dung, charcoal, and coal. This practice results in the emission of harmful and dangerously high levels of household air pollution.
Exposure to this h...ousehold air pollution has been estimated to cause around 3.2 million deaths annually in 2019; these emissions also worsen ambient air quality, alter the global climate, have gendered livelihood impacts, and degrade the local environment.
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