In Bangkok, the Museum of Health Futures sparks new conversations on public health

On a lively afternoon at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, a stream of delegates engaged with a curious display. Some pointed, while others leaned in for a closer look, exchanging thoughts with amused smiles. They were at the Museum of Health Futures − a showcase of speculative health innovations designed to spark dialogue on the future of public health.

Held as part of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development from 25 to 28 February 2025, the exhibition featured five imagined technological innovations - each one paired with a past public health achievement − that offer a glimpse into what the future of health could look like in the decades ahead. More than 200 participants - including government officials, civil society leaders, academics and youth representatives - engaged with the display, discussing how emerging trends could shape population health and well-being.

Among the highlights was a drug printer imagined for 2046 that allows individuals to print personalized prescriptions at home. A food-scanning app for 2052 instantly analyses food for nutrition content and contaminants. Visitors also explored a welcome kit for 2039, designed for employees of a futuristic Blue Zone Advancement Centre to support healthy ageing.

Designed to ignite conversations

The artefacts sparked immediate discussion. Noorul Jinnah Zeron Anas, a radiotherapist, was fascinated by the Advanced Organ Regenerator, an augmented reality (AR) smartphone scanner for 2063, which would be able to heal chronic illnesses instantly. "This showcases the transformative potential of AR in health care. Imagine advancements in cancer staging, patient simulations and precision treatment delivery while preserving organs," he said.

Morgan Schmeising, an intern working on disaster risk reduction at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), was drawn to the Emergency Response Kits designed for intergalactic travel in 2091. With the intersection of climate change and health, and ongoing investment in space technology, she felt that the concept would be realized soon. She hoped humans would be able to mitigate the impacts of climate change, "so space migration is a choice rather than necessary, and Earth remains habitable."

According to Amy Auld, a Consultant in the World Health Organization (WHO) Data, Strategy and Innovation group at the Regional Office for the Western Pacific, the exhibition is designed to ignite conversations, and to encourage people to think beyond the present. "It helps us to imagine different possibilities for health and to reflect on what we can do today to shape the futures we want."

^{Conversations to explore the future of health were sparked at the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development. UNESCAP Executive Secretary, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana (centre), discussed about the exhibition with Amy Auld (left) and Dr Boyang Li (right) from WHO. Credit: © WHO}

Imagining possibilities and shaping the future

Before its showcase in Bangkok, an extended version of the Museum was featured at the seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in Manila, Philippines, from 21 to 25 October 2024. More than 500 health policy experts and officials from across the Region explored 15 pairs of artefacts throughout the week-long meeting.

Visitors engaged with immersive displays, including a bubble-shaped tuktuk designed to shield passengers from air pollution and ultraviolet rays, and a prosthetic uterus envisioning pregnancy as an experience open to anyone, anytime. A holographic health dashboard projecting real-time public health indicators sparked discussions on what data might show us about what constitutes health and well-being.

"The Museum challenges us to think critically about the future of health and what actions we can take today to shape more inclusive, equitable and resilient health futures," said Roberta Pesce, a WHO Consultant who led the Museum design. "Seeing policy-makers, researchers and young leaders engage with these artefacts − questioning, debating and imagining − reinforces the importance of integrating futures thinking into public health planning. The future isn't predetermined − it's something we shape together."

Explore more about the Museum of Health Futures here.