The World Bank Group has set an ambitious target of reaching 1.5 billion people with quality and affordable healthcare services by 2030, banking on the responsible deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other digital innovations to expand access to care, strengthen health systems, and improve outcomes globally.

The goal comes against the backdrop of a staggering global healthcare deficit, with an estimated 4.5 billion people still lacking access to essential health services, according to Vice President for the People’s Vice Presidency at the World Bank, Mamta Murthi.

In a recent World Bank blog publication, Murthi said good health remains a critical driver of human potential, enabling people to pursue education, participate in the workforce, and contribute productively to economic growth.

Yet, she noted that health systems around the world continue to struggle with worker shortages, weak infrastructure, rising demand for services, and persistent financial barriers that leave billions without the care they need.

She said AI presents a significant opportunity to address some of the most pressing challenges facing healthcare systems, particularly in emerging and low-resource markets.

Murthi identified access to care as the most urgent challenge confronting global health. According to her, even where services exist, fragmented healthcare systems often direct patients to the wrong level of care, resulting in overcrowded hospitals, increased costs, and avoidable health complications.

To address these gaps, she explained that AI-powered technologies such as virtual triage platforms, remote diagnostics, and clinical decision-support tools can help extend healthcare services to underserved populations while guiding patients to appropriate care more quickly. She added that these innovations can strengthen primary healthcare, improve referral systems, and support earlier disease detection.