Empowering Lady Health Workers with AI Routing to Solve Healthcare Coordination Failures in Rural Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

This study examines maternal healthcare coordination issues in rural Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. Despite current infrastructure, rural communities face significant obstacles due to the uneven geographic distribution of physicians and fragmented health governance. The study suggests a decentralized digital approach that equips Lady Health Workers (LHWs) with AI-assisted triage and routing, alongside a telemedicine welfare fund. Analysis of existing digital systems and LHW programs suggests that bridging the gap between discovery and care via trusted community intermediaries may significantly lower preventable maternal mortality without the need for additional physical facilities. Findings suggest that the healthcare crisis in KPK appears to be primarily a problem of coordination and discovery rather than a shortage of infrastructure.

Keywords

Applied Science - Computer Science

Citation

Publication Details

ISSN: Online ISSN: 3143-5653

License: Author-retained; open access display by NSRI unless a separate article license states otherwise.

Peer review status: NSRI uses editorial and scholarly review. When appropriate, manuscripts may undergo blinded review by reviewers with relevant subject knowledge.

AI disclosure: No AI disclosure is attached to this public record unless stated in the manuscript.

Conflict of interest statement: No conflict of interest statement is attached to this public record unless stated in the manuscript.

References

References are available in the manuscript PDF when provided.