Abstract

The accelerating integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital innovation marks a defining moment for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and sustainable development in emerging economies, particularly across Africa. This paper examines how AI serves as a “force multiplier” to leapfrog traditional infrastructure gaps through transformative applications such as telemedicine, predictive maternal health models, automated diagnostics for infectious diseases including tuberculosis, malaria, and diabetic retinopathy, and AI-enabled decision-support systems. The study further highlights the growing role of AI-driven Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and multi-sectoral partnerships in strengthening healthcare delivery, expanding digital infrastructure, and supporting underserved communities through scalable, data-driven interventions.