AI in global health: addressing systemic underinvestment and workforce strain
Original framing: “Rehumanizing global health care with agentic AI” — MIT Technology Review
The current healthcare crisis is rooted in centuries of colonialism and resource extraction, which disrupted indigenous health systems and created dependency on Western models. The push for AI in healthcare echoes earlier waves of technocratic reform that often failed to improve outcomes for marginalized communities.
The crisis in global healthcare is not a technical problem that AI alone can solve; it is a systemic failure rooted in underinvestment, colonial legacies, and neoliberal policies.
Indigenous and community-based health models offer alternative pathways that emphasize relational care and sustainability. Ethical AI development must be part of a broader strategy that includes public investment, cultural inclusivity, and policy reform. By integrating these dimensions, we can move toward a more just and resilient global health system.