How to Strengthen existing Public Health Emergency Operation Centre (PHEOC) using 4IR technology?

Strengthening existing Public Health Emergency Operation Centres (PHEOCs) with Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies is a critical challenge facing public health systems today. PHEOCs play a vital role in managing health emergencies like pandemics or natural disasters, but they often struggle with issues like slow response times, data overload, and communication gaps. The challenge is to enhance these centers using the latest technologies to make them more efficient, responsive, and adaptable. The first part of the challenge involves figuring out how to use 4IR technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and blockchain to improve PHEOC operations. These technologies can help in analyzing vast amounts of data quickly, predicting outbreaks before they happen, ensuring secure and transparent information sharing, and automating routine tasks to free up human resources for more critical decision-making processes. Another aspect of this challenge is integrating these advanced technologies into the existing infrastructure without causing major disruptions. This means the solutions need to be user-friendly and compatible with the current systems that PHEOCs use. It also involves training staff to use new technologies effectively and ensuring that there’s a smooth transition. Moreover, there’s a need to address the digital divide and ensure that all regions, including those with limited resources, can benefit from these technological advancements. This includes finding cost-effective solutions and supporting infrastructure development where needed.