Code to Care: How Artificial Intelligence Is Rewriting the Geography of Global Healthcare Access

By: Fatmat El Zahraa Saif, Abu Dhabi Indian School

Artificial intelligence is reshaping healthcare by enhancing diagnostics, monitoring patients remotely, and expanding access to care, especially in underserved regions. This paper presents a methodological review and survey of AI applications across multiple domains, including conventional clinical assessment, telemedicine, wearable monitoring, community health diagnostics, and chronic disease management. Comparative analyses show that AI enabled systems reduce costs, improve diagnostic accuracy, increase medication adherence, and lower emergency hospital admissions compared to traditional in person care. Case studies from Rwanda, India, and the United Arab Emirates demonstrate practical implementations, such as telemedicine platforms, AI guided ultrasound screenings, and wearable based chronic disease monitoring frameworks. These examples highlight how AI supports clinicians and community health workers while extending care to populations with limited resources. The paper also addresses ethical considerations, regulatory challenges, data privacy concerns, and technological barriers. Despite these challenges, AI shows substantial promise for improving healthcare accessibility, reducing system burden, and supporting high quality care. Strategic deployment, human oversight, and equitable policy frameworks are essential to ensure AI benefits are realized safely and broadly.