NEW YORK - The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare is garnering great attention due to its transformation of medical practices and enhancement of patient care. Application of this groundbreaking technology faces distinct challenges within the healthcare systems of many African countries, however.
This article examines the specific obstacles African healthcare providers encounter in their efforts to seamlessly incorporate AI, with a focus on infrastructure deficiencies, the nature of data required for effective AI applications, and the position of African nations on the global AI readiness index. As the discussion progresses, it will quickly become evident that addressing each of these three main issues is crucial in fully deploying AI to improve Africa’s healthcare and ensure its equitable participation in the global advance of medical technology. 

Africa’s current infrastructure 

The healthcare infrastructure in most African countries presents a complex scenario marked by various difficulties that affect efforts at modernization - the smooth integration of AI among them. A lack of modern medical equipment and outdated information systems are significant technological barriers that hinder AI.¹ Logistical issues also exacerbate this situation - vast distances, underdeveloped transport networks, and unreliable power supplies are all hindrances to efficient AI implementation.²

Resource constraints such as financial limitations and a scarcity of skilled personnel also erect substantial hurdles. The absence of comprehensive digital health records and interoperability standards makes it difficult - sometimes impossible - to share the data indispensable for AI algorithms that depend on diverse datasets.³ The need for robust internet connectivity and real-time data access means the di