Digital health innovations in China highlighted at UN symposium on women's empowerment

by Ada Zhang

UNITED NATIONS, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Digital technologies are emerging as an important tool to advance gender equality and improve women's health, with China's experience in digital health drawing attention from international organizations.

A symposium on "Digital Intelligence Empowers Women's Health and Development" was convened on Tuesday at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, drawing more than 50 UN officials, experts and representatives from medical and digital health sectors.

In a video message, Chairperson of the China Women's Development Foundation (CWDF) Chen Xiaoxia said the foundation has long focused on empowering women and promoting sustainable development through public welfare programs.

"In recent years, we have actively embraced digital transformation and explored innovative applications of digital technologies in health education, screening and women's empowerment," Chen said.

"Digital innovation is transforming women's health in several profound ways," said Soyoltuya Bayaraa, deputy director of the Program Division at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

"We're seeing greater precision in diagnostics. For example, artificial intelligence in China is being used to detect breast cancer and cervical cancer with fewer false positives than traditional methods," Bayaraa said.

She noted that digital technologies are helping break geographic barriers in healthcare delivery. "Through remote and digital consultations, people in remote or hard-to-reach areas are able to receive attention," she said.

"In countries like China, the use of modern robotics is transforming healthcare," Bayaraa said, adding that technologies such as humanoid and assistive robots are being explored to support care services in response to aging populations.

Chinese experts also shared examples of how digital technologies are being used in disease prevention. Zhu Lan, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, introduced how technologies such as artificial intelligence are supporting cervical cancer screening, diagnosis and professional training in China.

Lily Gray, senior liaison officer at the New York office of UNESCO, noted that for women artists, designers, artisans and entrepreneurs, digital platforms open doors to "new audiences, new markets and new opportunities."

"Digital tools can help document, protect and transmit traditional knowledge, while giving women practitioners greater recognition and new opportunities," she said, noting that many women serve as custodians of intangible cultural heritage.

During a panel discussion, experts from Peking Union Medical College and Harvard Medical School discussed how digital health tools can expand cervical cancer screening and improve healthcare access for women in remote areas.

On Tuesday evening, the CWDF also held an exhibition on women's public welfare achievements, featuring programs on women's health and empowerment, as well as hand-embroidered works and the mamianqun, or "horse-face skirt."

Female artisans specializing in intangible cultural heritage, including Xiang embroidery from China's Hunan province, Chao embroidery from Guangdong province, Su embroidery from Jiangsu province and Miao paper-cutting, also demonstrated their crafts and interacted with visitors.

The event was jointly organized by the CWDF, the UNFPA and the Inclusive Health Lab of Tencent's Sustainable Social Value initiative, with support from the Sino-American Friendship Association. ■