AI Adoption and the Dilemma of the Healthcare Economy Justice, Equity, and Equality

The world is urbanizing at a rapid pace fueling an ethical conflict between saving lives and acting equitably. The complexity of healthcare data is one of the driving forces towards the application of artificial intelligence (AI) within the field of healthcare management. The key categories of applications involve diagnosis and treatment recommendations, patient engagement and adherence, and administrative activities. AI offers a real opportunity for healthcare management, not only for automating some of the processes and procedures carried out by doctors and other medical staff but also for making quicker and better decisions as well as applying human-free problem-solving techniques, thus reducing costs and improving outcomes. Though AI can empower healthcare and diagnostic processes with automation integration, some challenges exist. This chapter aims to explore those challenges through a conceptualized literature review of recent empirical studies which are centered around the level of governance of AI applications in healthcare institutions. Such governance is critical, not only for patient safety and accountability but to foster equity, equality, and clinician trust, as well as improving the adoption of meaningful health outcomes. In doing so, the chapter will also offer an insight into the potential of AI to transform healthcare systems, by showing ethical and practical implications.