Designing AI tools to advance health equity in resource-constrained low- and middle-income countries - Report - MDSpire

Designing AI tools to advance health equity in resource-constrained low- and middle-income countries

  • By

  • Anindya Pradipta Susanto

  • David Lyell

  • Bambang Widyantoro

  • Shlomo Berkovsky

  • Farah Magrabi

  • May 16, 2026

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Developing AI Solutions to Promote Health Equity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Overview

This report discusses the potential of AI to enhance health equity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by addressing barriers to healthcare access. It outlines eight principles for designing AI tools that align with the socio-technical context of these settings.

Background

Detail the barriers to AI adoption, including workforce shortages and infrastructure issues.

Data Highlights

No numerical data presented in the article.

Key Findings

  • AI can expand access to health services and strengthen health systems in LMICs.
  • Adopting a problem-driven approach is essential for aligning AI tools with the specific needs of resource-constrained settings.
  • Socio-technical considerations must be integrated into the design and implementation of AI technologies.
  • AI tools have shown potential in improving preventive care productivity in primary care settings.
  • Existing literature on AI in healthcare predominantly focuses on high-income countries, highlighting a gap in LMIC contexts.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare professionals should consider the unique challenges of LMICs when implementing AI solutions. A focus on problem-driven design and socio-technical alignment can enhance the effectiveness of AI tools in these settings.

Conclusion

AI has the potential to significantly improve health equity in LMICs, but careful consideration of local contexts and needs is essential for successful implementation.

Related Resources & Content

  1. World Health Organization, WHO, 2025 -- Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health: Guidance on large multi-modal models
  2. Nature Health, 2026 -- Large language model diagnostic assistance for physicians in a lower-middle-income country: a randomized controlled trial
  3. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2026 -- Open-Source Large Language Models and AI Health Equity: A Health Service Triangle Model Perspective
  4. Frontiers in Digital Health, 2026 -- Perspectives on healthcare artificial intelligence policy from health equity professionals: findings from an interview study
  5. npj Digital Medicine, 2026 -- Enhancing Governance of Healthcare AI with a Detailed Maturity Model Derived from Systematic Review Findings
  6. Kaiser Family Foundation, KFF, 2025 -- The Growing Use of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care and Implications for Disparities
  7. Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health: Guidance on large multi-modal models
  8. Large language model diagnostic assistance for physicians in a lower-middle-income country: a randomized controlled trial | Nature Health
  9. Use of computer-aided detection software for tuberculosis screening: WHO policy statement

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