The ELSA Lab AI for Health Equity focuses on generating knowledge on equitable access to healthcare through the use of AI, while mapping the barriers and opportunities involved. One of the key challenges in applying AI in healthcare is that data from certain groups are underrepresented, which can result in unequal or inadequate care. The ambition of this ELSA Lab is to promote equal opportunities by developing a digital knowledge infrastructure, thereby enabling the responsible deployment of AI solutions for a broader population. The partners aim to share this knowledge through a platform developed in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, including patient associations, healthcare organisations, as well as citizens and societal stakeholders.
Equal Access to AI in Healthcare
By making knowledge available through a platform, the ELSA Lab AI for Health Equity creates access to knowledge and data for a wide range of stakeholders involved in the development and deployment of AI applications. The communication platform will raise awareness and promote access to equitable interventions among diverse stakeholder groups, including patients, healthcare professionals, and developers. The lab also focuses on the transparency and representativeness of databases relevant to AI applications, as well as on translational aspects between users and technology.
The increasing digitalisation and innovation in healthcare can only be successful if they ensure equitable access to care. Equal opportunities in health can be achieved by addressing barriers and ensuring that health technologies are inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of diverse population groups. The following three core objectives form part of the vision of the ELSA Lab:
The ELSA Lab AI for Health Equity adopts a broad approach to health inequalities by integrating social, ecological, and technological perspectives. It employs systems-thinking techniques such as agent-based modelling, in combination with design methods including co-creation. Through this approach, the lab aims to gain insight into the (digital) manifestations, causes, and mechanisms of health inequalities, while simultaneously developing effective (policy) interventions and solutions.
The research institutes of the HvA, UvA, VU, and Amsterdam UMC affiliated with the ELSA Lab collaborate with a wide range of external stakeholders, including patient associations, the Municipality of Amsterdam, public health and mental healthcare services (GGD/GGZ), SGAN, the National Expertise Centre Pharos, primary care and healthcare organisations, as well as social welfare and health organisations.
The ultimate success is the realisation of the AI for Health Equity communication platform, focused on opportunities and risks related to fairness in AI-based approaches and on the circulation of knowledge between science, healthcare, users, and technology. In this way, an ecosystem is created in which stakeholders are engaged and citizens can actively participate in the development and application of AI in healthcare.
The Dutch AI Coalition developed the NL AIC Label to reinforce its vision on the development and application of AI in the Netherlands. The NL AIC Label is a formal recognition of an activity that aligns with the ambitions and strategic objectives of the Dutch AI Coalition. The NL AIC warmly congratulates the ELSA Lab AI for Health Equity.
The ELSA Lab AI for Health Equity is led by Professor Anniek de Ruijter and Professor Julia van Weert. For more information about the ELSA Lab AI for Health Equity, please visit their website or contact Anniek de Ruijter or Julia van Weert. If you are interested in learning more about Human-Centred AI, the ELSA concept, or other ELSA Labs, we warmly invite you to visit this page.
