(Toronto, July 1, 2026) JMIR Publications released four News and Perspectives stories covering the rapidly evolving landscape of digital health, predictive public health, and clinical artificial intelligence.
Predictive Public Health for Malaria Control
In " Building a Malaria Intelligence System for Real-Time Prediction and Data-Driven Intervention Planning ", science journalist Sharon Muzaki reports on a novel AI-driven malaria intelligence platform developed in Nigeria to shift malaria control from reactive interventions to predictive precision public health. By integrating historical epidemiological data, climate indicators, and satellite-derived vegetation indices, the system uses machine learning to identify localized transmission risks before outbreaks occur. This continuous intelligence framework helps public health officials detect blind spots in traditional surveillance and allocate resources more efficiently, though scaling this innovation across higher-burden regions will require overcoming significant infrastructure, funding, and data interoperability challenges. "The malaria intelligence platform highlights a broader transformation underway in global health," writes Muzaki. "Future surveillance systems are likely to become increasingly interdisciplinary, combining epidemiology, climate science, geospatial analytics, and AI into unified public health frameworks…The project also reflects the growing role of African-led innovation in digital health."
Please cite as:
Muzaki, S. Building a Malaria Intelligence System for Real-Time Prediction and Data-Driven Intervention Planning.
J Med Internet Res 2026;28:e105472
URL: https://www.jmir.org/2026/1/e105472
doi: 10.2196/105472
The Landmark ACCESS Program
In " Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to Launch Landmark ACCESS Program ", journalist Delaney Rebernik reports on the United States' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services's new ACCESS program, a 10-year experimental model paying providers for technology-enabled care—provided the they demonstrate improved patient outcomes at scale. With over 150 digital health companies participating, the program works towards the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' innovation hub's goal of "delivering better health outcomes at lower cost by shifting payment incentives from the volume of services provided (fee-for-service) to the outcomes patients experience (value-based care)," writes Rebernik. While experts praise the program's scalable ambition, they and Rebernik highlight concerns: lower-than-expected reimbursement rates may challenge hardware profitability, while the rapid rollout of relatively unproven technologies raises alarms regarding patient safety, data privacy, and the potential fragmentation of care coordination.
Please cite as:
Rebernik D. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to Launch Landmark ACCESS Program.
J Med Internet Res 2026;28:e105562
URL: https://www.jmir.org/2026/1/e105562
doi: 10.2196/105562
Genuine Institutional Change for Clinical AI
Physician and professor Boon-How Chew's op-ed " Transformation Versus Innovation in Digital Health Care and the Future of Clinical AI " argues that genuine institutional transformation must precede scalable innovation. Chew notes that while the digital era has lowered technical barriers to innovation and transformation, it has significantly raised cultural demands—which many hierarchically organized health care institutions are unable to meet. Instead, they fall into what Chew calls a "documentation trap," producing extensive strategic plans without fundamentally changing their underlying culture or risk tolerance, with "organizational literature repeatedly suggest[ing] that documentary productivity has a paradoxically weak relationship with transformation outcomes." For clinical AI to be safely and effectively integrated, Chew asserts that institutions must build psychological safety, redesign roles, and reform governance, rather than only adopting new tools to perform existing dysfunctional processes.
Please cite as:
Chew BH. Transformation Versus Innovation in Digital Health Care and the Future of Clinical AI.
J Med Internet Res 2026;28:e105359
URL: https://www.jmir.org/2026/1/e105359
doi: 10.2196/105359
The Impact of LLMs on Mental Health Care
In " How Does That Large Language Model Make You Feel? ", science journalist Simon Spichak examines the growing trend of patients using commercially available large language models for emotional support. While a significant portion of the public relies on these tools, Spichak highlights critical concerns regarding their safety, long-term outcomes, and effectiveness compared to clinically validated therapy chatbots. Experts warn that general-purpose LLMs can cause direct harm by reinforcing detrimental behaviors, such as reassurance-seeking in patients with OCD, and say maintaining an open dialogue between clinicians and clients will be important. "Across the board," writes Spichak, "experts who spoke with JMIR Publications say it's important to invest in and run high-quality studies examining the impact of LLM use on mental health, but the rapid deployment of direct-to-consumer AI is outpacing the research."
Please cite as:
Spichak S. How Does That Large Language Model Make You Feel?
J Med Internet Res 2026;28:e105105
URL: https://www.jmir.org/2026/1/e105105
doi: 10.2196/105105
About JMIR Publications News and Perspectives
JMIR Publications is a leading open access publisher of digital health research. The News and Perspectives section is the newest addition to its portfolio, established to bring the rigor and integrity of academic publishing to scientific journalism. The section features well-researched, expert-driven content from the Scientific News Editor, Kayleigh-Ann Clegg, PhD, and a network of specialist JMIR Publications Correspondents to keep the digital health community informed, inspired, and ahead of the curve.
About JMIR Publications
JMIR Publications is a leading open access publisher of digital health research and a champion of open science. With a focus on author advocacy and research amplification, JMIR Publications partners with researchers to advance their careers and maximize the impact of their work. As a technology organization with publishing at its core, we provide innovative tools and resources that go beyond traditional publishing, supporting researchers at every step of the dissemination process. Our portfolio features a range of peer-reviewed journals, including the renowned Journal of Medical Internet Research.
To find out more about JMIR Publications, visit jmirpublications.com or connect with them on Bluesky , X
