Smart Hospitals and Remote Healthcare Access: Russian Research Institute of Health at BRICS Working Group Meeting

Russian Research Institute of Health (RIH) experts also participated in a BRICS Working Group meeting focused on “Physical and Technological Infrastructure for Specialized Care in Remote and Hard-to-Reach Areas: Smart Hospitals.”

The growing complexity of specialized healthcare calls for innovative, sustainable solutions that meet population needs while aligning with national health strategies and policies. The concept of "smart," resilient, and sustainable medical infrastructure is central to the Health 4.0 vision, emphasizing:

• Integration of resources and services,
• Optimization of clinical and administrative workflows,
• Enhanced decision-making through advanced technologies.

The meeting underscored the potential of linking demand for specialized care with local innovation and technological development to improve access, reduce vulnerability, and close health equity gaps.

Key priorities discussed included:

• Universal Health Coverage (UHC),
• Strengthening primary care networks,
• Cross-border data exchange,
• Telemedicine, AI-based diagnostics, and EHR interoperability.

The definition and shared understanding of what constitutes a “smart hospital” across BRICS countries is critical for harmonizing policy and promoting collaborative development.

Technologies associated with smart hospitals include the Internet of Things (IoT), electronic health records, remote monitoring, AI-driven decision support, predictive analytics, robotics, blockchain, and cybersecurity solutions.

Participants emphasized the need to align these advancements with national public health systems and regulatory frameworks, helping elevate the digital infrastructure and service quality in the BRICS healthcare landscape.