Population Services International (PSI) announced the launch of a new digital health service in Vietnam to help people in low-income communities make informed decisions about their health and efficiently navigate the healthcare system. Through a partnership with Babylon (NYSE: BBLN), communities in the Bac Ninh province and the Hanoi Capital City – which have a combined population of 9.4 million – will have free 24/7 access to a new platform, called AI OI, that combines Babylon’s AI Symptom Checker with PSI’s Health Provider Locator tool.
In low-income communities around the world, taking time to visit a medical facility means out-of-pocket expenses as well as loss of income that create financial barriers to care. PSI research shows most low income people put off going to a health facility due to the amount of time needed off work – and resulting loss of income – and high out of pocket fees that often don’t match their particular health issue. In addition, women in particular experience stigma from health providers on sensitive health topics such as menstruation, and sexual and reproductive health.
AI OI aims to shift this model by providing consumers more control over their health journeys in a private, stigma-free environment from their mobile devices. After taking an AI-powered self-assessment with AI OI, an individual is signposted to local health facilities in their area that can provide follow-on services. The platform is designed to work across both public and private healthcare systems to increase access to targeted care. Our future plan is to build out the service through partnerships with Telehealth providers, ePharmacists and home delivery services, and health information portals and chatbots.
“PSI has worked closely with Vietnam’s healthcare systems over the last 17 years. Our deep global expertise in social behavior change and implementing pathbreaking, consumer-centric technology, uniquely position us to deliver this service,” said Karl Hofmann, President and CEO of Population Services International. “We’re thrilled to partner with Babylon and demonstrate how innovative digital technology can extend the capacity and reach of under-resourced healthcare systems – something we urgently need if we’re to achieve ambitious universal health coverage targets.”
The AI OI platform leverages Babylon’s existing advanced AI technology, which has already been fully localized for 11 territories in Southeast Asia by a team of AI clinicians based on the ground to ensure accuracy, safety and cultural appropriateness.
“We are thrilled to be working with PSI, one of the most innovative non-profit organizations, to support people to more effectively manage their health,” said Dr Ali Parsa, Chief Executive Officer of Babylon. “PSI and Babylon share a similar vision for the future of healthcare, and we look forward to now sharing our technology to make quality healthcare accessible and affordable for those most in need.”
The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation awarded PSI a grant to design and deploy AI OI in November 2021 as a part of its strategy to build capacity to use data, digital tools and artificial intelligence to design people-centered, accessible health systems.
“This partnership represents the transformative opportunity that comes from combining technological possibility and visionary social changemakers,” said Vilas Dhar, president of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. “We’re excited to explore how these new AI and digitally-enabled approaches can center dignity, autonomy and empathy in healthcare.”
The AI OI service launched in Bac Ninh and Hanoi on 23 September, and roll-out of the service will take place over the coming months. PSI is leading a demand generation and awareness campaign based on user insights to build trust and confidence in digital health tools and encourage use of the service over the coming months.
PSI and Babylon aim to grow the reach of this service to additional parts of Vietnam in 2023 as well as expand their partnership to other countries in the future on their mission of making high-quality health services that are affordable and accessible.
