ChatGPT: promise and challenges for deployment in low- and middle-income countries
Xiaofei Wang, Hayley M. Sanders, Yuchen Liu, Kennarey Seang, Bach Xuan Tran, Atanas G. Atanasov, Yue Qiu, Shenglan Tang, Josip Car, Ya Xing Wang, Tien Yin Wong, Yih Chung Tham, Kevin C. Chung
Abstract
In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the fields of medicine and public health grapple with numerous challenges that continue to hinder patients' access to healthcare services. ChatGPT, a publicly accessible chatbot, has emerged as a potential tool in aiding public health efforts in LMICs. This viewpoint details the potential benefits of employing ChatGPT in LMICs to improve medicine and public health encompassing a broad spectrum of domains ranging from health literacy, screening, triaging, remote healthcare support, mental health support, multilingual capabilities, healthcare communication and documentation, medical training and education, and support for healthcare professionals. Additionally, we also share potential concerns and limitations associated with the use of ChatGPT and provide a balanced discussion on the opportunities and challenges of using ChatGPT in LMICs.