An international CHNRI exercise asked 51 experts to score 155 research ideas on feasibility, disease-burden impact, paradigm-shift potential, implementation and equity. Highest priorities included outbreak prediction, infectious-disease diagnostics and early warnings, followed by resource allocation, telemedicine, culturally adapted mobile health and chronic-disease tools. LMIC experts emphasized infectious-disease control and diagnostic equity, while high-income experts emphasized infrastructure and climate analytics, showing why affected regions need decision power.
Key findings
- Outbreak prediction, diagnostics and early warning ranked highest; allocation, telemedicine, adapted mHealth and chronic care followed; LMIC experts prioritized infection and equity, HIC experts infrastructure and climate analytics.
Why this matters globally
The agenda can shift funders from fragmented AI demonstrations toward system and equity needs and benchmark whether investments align with LMIC priorities.
Thai researcher contribution
Wiriya Mahikul of Chulabhorn Hospital contributes a Thailand-based health-system perspective to the global AI agenda.
Limitations to consider
Fifty-one experts cannot represent all regions, professions, patients or regulators. Rankings depend on framing and weights and do not establish evidence maturity or cost. Consensus is not effectiveness, and income-group differences may reflect panel composition.