Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the face of healthcare around the world as more and more governments are putting it into place in their public health systems globally. From better diagnosis and prediction to better healthcare access in remote areas, AI is a critical part of current medicine.
The United States, China, Singapore, and the UK are leading the way in AI-powered healthcare in a number of countries. Their investments in digital health infrastructure, electronic medical records, and AI-driven clinical tools have made healthcare more efficient, data-driven, and accessible. Expert opinion is that success is not in terms of technological skill but of how well AI can reduce inequalities in healthcare.
Debjit Patra, the founder and chairperson of MediElaj, thinks the global competition in AI-driven healthcare should be seen as a race to achieve more equity in terms of equity, not just technological advancement.
Patra says nations that combine AI with grassroots healthcare infrastructure would set the standard for the future of public health.
"The global race to deploy AI in public health isn’t just a race for technology. It’s a race for equity," Patra said.
He stressed that technology alone cannot change healthcare if it doesn't earn people’s trust and change the way they behave with regard to healthcare. He thinks AI should be incorporated into the physical healthcare networks so that underprivileged communities benefit from digital innovation.
Patra pointed to India’s ongoing digital transformation as an example. AI-driven diagnostics and advanced data analytics are now moving beyond pilot projects and into mainstream healthcare delivery through large-scale teleconsultation services and national digital health programs.
He said the real purpose of AI is to shift healthcare from reactive to proactive to prevention and continuous monitoring.
"Instead of waiting for episodic, reactive interventions, we are finally enabling continuous, proactive health monitoring for populations long left invisible by traditional systems," Patra said.
The greatest achievement of AI will be to provide predictive, proactive, and targeted care to people at the lowest socioeconomic level and not the complexity of the algorithms behind it, he said.
Similarly, Alok Katiyar, co-founder of WeClinic Homoeopathy, said that countries leading AI adoption have developed strong digital ecosystems that enable healthcare providers to integrate AI into routine medical practice.
"The leading nations in using AI in public health today are the United States, China, Singapore, and the UK," said Katiyar.
He said digitized patient records, interconnected healthcare infrastructure, and access to large datasets on patient populations have helped to enable these countries to leverage AI effectively.
Katiyar also described India as one of the world's most promising markets for AI-driven healthcare.
The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) was one such initiative that could accelerate AI adoption in India’s healthcare system, he said. Given India’s huge population and growing digital infrastructure, the program presents a truly unique opportunity to improve healthcare delivery through AI-driven solutions.
Katiyar also highlighted AI's potential in special medical areas such as homoeopathy. With clinics increasingly digitizing patient records and treatment histories, AI can analyze vast amounts of clinical data and help doctors to make more informed treatment decisions.
"The countries that will lead this race will be those that use AI to make healthcare more accessible, more informed, and more human," he said.
As governments continue to invest in digital transformation, AI will become even more critical in preventive care, early detection of disease, personalized treatment, and remote consultations. Despite technological innovation being of utmost importance to the future, experts agree that the future leaders in AI-powered healthcare will be the ones who reach out to all the people in underserved and rural areas. India’s growing digital health ecosystem puts it in a position to be one of those leaders in the future.
