Chinese authorities call for broader AI application in health sector

China's National Health Commission and four other authorities have called for the broader application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the country's health sector over the coming years, according to a document released by all five authorities and made public on Tuesday.

By 2030, intelligent diagnosis and treatment assistance will be universal in basic terms across China's primary-level medical institutions, including community and village clinics, per a goal set out in the document.

Meanwhile, hospitals at or above the second grade in China's three-tier hospital system will widely adopt AI technologies such as intelligent medical-imaging diagnosis and clinical decision-making support technologies.

The document also suggests expanded AI use in patient services, enabling hospitals to offer integrated intelligent services throughout the entire treatment process, including precise appointment-scheduling, triage, and pre-diagnosis and follow-up services.

Additionally, China plans to upgrade its intelligent epidemiological investigation systems to provide real-time, precise support for infectious disease prevention and control decision-making, according to the document.