Loneliness has emerged as a critical public health crisis, with evidence linking social isolation to mortality risks comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes per day, as well as increased incidence of heart disease, dementia, and escalating healthcare costs. Despite these alarming statistics, global health systems rarely screen for or address social isolation, leaving a profound policy gap.

This plenary session, led by Dr. Janvier Rugira, will explore how digital health innovations can transform loneliness from a silent epidemic into a solvable challenge. Drawing on findings from the 2025 WHO Commission on Social Connection, the session will highlight how technologies—ranging from AI-driven companionship tools in European elderly care, to community telehealth hubs in the UAE, to predictive analytics in Saudi hospitals—are being deployed to strengthen social connection. The discussion will also address critical barriers such as privacy, accessibility, and cultural adaptation.

Participants will leave with actionable insights tailored to healthcare leaders, policymakers, and technologists. These include integrating social connection metrics into electronic health records, designing “connection-first” digital health solutions, and reframing loneliness as a physiological threat rather than a mere emotional state.

By bridging clinical, technological, and policy domains, this session offers a unified narrative with global relevance and practical implications. A live Q&A will invite reflection on pressing questions: Can technology truly replace human connection, and how do we measure the return on investment for interventions targeting loneliness?