Governing AI in Healthcare: Politics, Regulation, and Equity in the Digital Health Transformation

The field of digital health is currently experiencing a profound transformation due to the swift integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into healthcare systems around the globe. This surge of AI innovation is revolutionizing health service delivery, data management, and the way medical decisions are approached, promising advancements in efficiency, diagnostic accuracy, and personalized care. At the same time, scholars and stakeholders are increasingly concerned with associated political, regulatory, ethical, and distributive impacts and challenges. Issues such as algorithmic bias, data sovereignty, patient privacy, and shifts in the balance of power among states, markets, healthcare professionals, and citizens have attracted significant attention. Recent studies reveal both the expansive potential of AI applications—from remote monitoring to precision medicine—and the persistent risks of deepening health inequities and regulatory loopholes, particularly when new technologies outpace the ability of existing oversight frameworks to ensure fairness and social justice.This Research Topic aims to critically examine the political, regulatory, and social dynamics shaping the integration of AI in healthcare across national and international contexts. Central objectives include analyzing how regulatory environments, policymaking processes, and governance structures mediate the adoption and impact of AI on different health systems; investigating distributive outcomes for populations, especially those managing chronic diseases and subjected to new health technologies; and interrogating emerging struggles around justice, rights, and equity triggered by digital health transformations. Questions targeted by this topic include: How are digital health regulatory frameworks being constructed, contested, and enforced? What are the implications for equity and accountability in healthcare resource distribution, clinical decision-making, and patient participation?To gather further insights in the governance and regulation of AI in healthcare, we welcome articles that address comparative national or transnational perspectives while recognizing thematic and methodological variety. Contributions can include theoretical, empirical, or case-based research. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:- Political and regulatory innovation in digital health governance- Algorithmic bias and its consequences for health equity- Data governance, privacy, and digital rights in AI-driven healthcare- Shifting power relations among institutions, professionals, and patients- Comparative analysis of regulatory frameworks and policy responses to AI in healthcare- Impacts of AI on advanced medical technologies, such as telemedicine and precision medicine- Health finance and insurance in the digital health age- Participatory governance and patient agency in AI adoption- Strategies for advancing just and accountable AI integration in healthcare systems Topic editors: Mengxi Yang, Jing Ning Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80742/governing-ai-in-healthcare-politics-regulation-and-equity-in-the-digital-health-transformation