Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare faster than we ever imagined. From drug discovery to disease prevention, AI is making huge strides.
But according to Dr. Peiling Yap, Chief Scientist at HealthAI, the conversation we need isn’t just about what AI can do—it’s about who it should serve.
“AI applications are already driving efficiencies in drug discovery, optimizing clinical trial recruitment, and supporting preventive care through continuous health monitoring,” Dr. Peiling says. “It’s also improving diagnosis accuracy, enabling personalized treatments, and enhancing rehabilitation and post-care follow-up.”
In other words, AI is touching every part of healthcare—from the lab to your living room. It’s even helping governments predict and manage public health threats, making it easier to prepare for pandemics.
But the real opportunity, Dr. Peiling points out is how AI could close the gap for those who need healthcare the most.
“In low- and middle-income countries, where healthcare infrastructure and workforce shortages create significant barriers to access, AI has the potential to bridge gaps in care delivery,” she explains.
“By optimizing resource allocation and improving affordability, AI-driven solutions can make healthcare more accessible to underserved populations.”
Still, there’s a big question we can’t ignore: Who decides what role AI will play in healthcare?
AI must be built with people at the centre
For all its promise, Dr. Peiling warns that AI must be designed with clear intent. Most importantly, with human values at the core.
“Too often, AI development is led by technologists and healthcare experts without sufficient input from the individuals it is meant to serve—patients and citizens.”
Her message is clear: patients must be a part of the conversation from day one. If AI is built without listening to real-world needs, we risk creating solutions that miss the mark, or worse, deepen existing problems.
Ethics are not the enemy of innovation
Some fear that regulations around AI could slow progress. However, Dr. Peiling disagrees.
“The healthcare sector has long operated within a structured regulatory environment that ensures the safety, efficacy, and ethical integrity of new medical treatments and devices,” she points out.
“Historically, regulations have not stifled innovation; rather, they have provided a framework for trust.”
In her view, AI should be treated the same way as any life-saving technology: built within strong, thoughtful frameworks that ensure fairness, safety, and accountability.
She adds,
“By embedding ethical oversight into AI regulations from the outset, healthcare systems can foster innovation while ensuring responsible deployment that prioritizes patient well-being.”
Fighting for equity in the AI era
As AI becomes more powerful, there’s a real risk that it could worsen inequalities instead of fixing them. Dr. Peiling is determined to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Quoting UN Secretary-General António Guterres, she reminds us: “A world of AI haves and have-nots would be a world of perpetual instability. We must never allow AI to stand for ‘advancing inequality’.”
This principle is non-negotiable for HealthAI, an independent nonprofit, working as an implementation partner with governments and global health leaders to ensure AI transforms healthcare for all.
“To promote equity, AI in health must be developed and regulated with global standards that protect diverse populations,” says Dr. Peiling.
That means identifying biases in AI models, making the technology transparent, and ensuring marginalized communities have a real say in shaping their future.
“The goal should not be to deploy AI for innovation’s sake. It should be to ensure that advancements in AI-driven healthcare truly serve all populations, regardless of geography or socioeconomic status.”
Bottom line
AI is going to change healthcare. It definitely will. What we need to do is make sure it’s innovation that lifts everyone, not just a few.
With leaders like Dr. Peiling Yap pushing for ethics, equity, and human-centred design, there’s hope that AI can live up to its full, world-changing potential.
More about Dr Peiling Yap
Dr. Peiling Yap is a pharmacist and infectious-diseases epidemiologist with 15 years of experience in global and public health. As Chief Scientist at HealthAI, she leads efforts to strengthen AI regulation in healthcare and foster global collaboration on Responsible AI standards.
Dr. Yap has spearheaded impactful public health research and initiatives globally. At the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, she investigated psychosocial health and nutrition in children and the effectiveness of health education targeting children in China and South Africa.
