You mentioned that upon joining Google , the change of pace , especially during the COVID-19 pandemic , was rapid and significant . How have your priorities and professional focus evolved in response to these dynamic conditions ?

The priorities of the work increasingly aligned with my own , particularly in prevention and upstream thinking , providing more knowledge and insights to everyone . My career has focused on social determinants of health and public health improvement , alongside practising medicine . At Google , we help people gain more knowledge about themselves , which is crucial for better health . From a priority standpoint , I feel I ’ ve influenced the company to see its role in improving public health , not just medical care , despite the pressures and challenges in the healthcare system .

It seems no specific country is thriving post-pandemic . However , given the existing technologies , why do you think there has been a slow adoption of these advancements in various sectors ? complexity . People also started to keep their vaccine records in apps , such as the NHS app and the Indonesian government ’ s app , fostering trust in self-management .

Another key point is the importance of non-proprietary technology for improving access and equity . Unlike the first wave of digitisation , where bespoke data models were common , there ’ s now an emphasis on interoperability and data standards like FHIR ( Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources ). Governments are adopting these open standards to ensure data moves with people , not staying static , which empowers both individuals and the systems they interact with . This approach aligns with work I did in the US government on harmonised open standards , which Google also supports to enhance data interoperability and equity in healthcare .

Given that those who would benefit most from health and medical technology often cannot afford it , what is Google doing to ensure their tools and technologies are accessible to a wider audience ?

I think some of it is that healthcare is human and humans are complex and varied . No two patient stories are the same ; everyone has their own history , context , genomics and epigenetics . While it is possible to create systems providing general support , such as in maternal health where we know the necessary actions before , during and after pregnancy , the challenge is not knowing what to do but in the context and delivery . Access is another major issue – some people lack financial means , linguistic access , the ability to take time off work , or fear using the system .

COVID-19 highlighted that technology can help meet people where they are , rather than making them come to the healthcare system . Telehealth is a prime example of this shift , becoming common globally . People began testing themselves for COVID-19 , much like those with HIV have done and tracking their health information . This shift opens

opportunities for equitable access since technology can reduce barriers like travel and time off work . For instance , AI technologies like Google ’ s that translate informational videos on YouTube can reach more people without added

We have a few ways that we do that work . Firstly , a broader philosophical comment is that there are places in the world like Japan and India where technology is introduced to the ecosystem and costs go down . These are healthy economies where technology improves access and lowers prices . In the US , new technology is often thought to increase costs , but it doesn ’ t have to . General-purpose AI and technology not built on bespoke hardware can help lower costs by using tools and technology that people already have . Even though wearables may be out of reach for some , there are many sensors on people ’ s phones and most people globally have access to smartphones . We aim to build tools that are compatible with older versions of Android since 3 billion people have access to Android phones , which aren ’ t always the latest version . For example , with Google Lens , which can take a picture of a skin lesion and show possible diagnoses , we built it to work well on older Android phones . We always consider inclusion and equity in our technology development .

Your team has been described as putting healthcare into our pockets and our homes . What would your message be to those people who are still sceptical about both the quality of care that they ’ ve received and concerns around cybersecurity and data ?

Just like we need inclusion by design , we need privacy by design . Here ’ s the key thing : people want to understand

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