BRICS Digital Health 2026: AI, Access and Care Continuity

Digital health is emerging as a key lever for expanding healthcare access and continuity of care across BRICS countries.

The BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026 specifically welcomed cooperation on people-centered digital healthcare systems and the BRICS Compendium on Digital Health Architecture for Continuum of Care, including access to remote areas.

For India, this is particularly relevant because geography, specialist availability and fragmented care can influence access and outcomes.

Telemedicine, AI-assisted clinical decision support, digital health records and connected care can bring expertise closer to patients while improving coordination between providers.

As Dr. Vikram Thaploo, CEO, Apollo TeleHealth, noted, the next phase should focus on scalable, interoperable and clinically meaningful solutions that integrate into healthcare delivery.

What Is Digital Health and Why Is It Important for BRICS Countries?

Digital health covers technologies including telemedicine, electronic health records, health information systems, connected devices, data analytics and artificial intelligence.

Its importance lies not simply in digitizing existing processes but in connecting patients, providers and health systems.

The New Delhi Declaration calls for stronger cooperation on people-centered digital healthcare and recognizes digital health technology and AI as tools for improving access to healthcare, particularly alongside stronger infrastructure and surveillance systems.

India has already built significant digital infrastructure: the National Health Authority said in July 2026 that the ecosystem had crossed 940 million ABHA IDs and 1 billion linked digital health records.

Also Read: How AI Can Power Target Identification and Disease Mapping

How Can AI Improve Healthcare Delivery and Patient Outcomes?

AI can support healthcare professionals by analyzing large datasets, identifying patterns and assisting with clinical decision-making.

Applications can extend from medical imaging and risk assessment to disease surveillance, drug development and health-system management.

WHO notes that AI is already being used across diagnosis, clinical care, drug development and outbreak response, while stressing the need for governance and equitable access.

For BRICS health systems, AI could help extend specialist capabilities where workforce availability is constrained. However, AI should augment rather than replace clinical judgement, with validation, transparency and human oversight built into deployment.

How Can Telemedicine Improve Healthcare Access in Rural and Remote Areas?

Telemedicine can reduce the geographic barrier between patients and specialists by enabling remote consultations, follow-ups and referral support.

This is especially significant for rural communities where specialist services may be concentrated in larger cities.

India's experience provides an important model. Its eSanjeevani platform and broader telemedicine infrastructure demonstrate how digital channels can connect patients with healthcare professionals without requiring every service to be physically located in the patient's community.

The BRICS declaration's emphasis on digital healthcare for remote areas reinforces the need to adapt such models across different health systems.

Why Are Interoperable Digital Health Records Important for Continuity of Care?

A digital record becomes more valuable when it can follow the patient across healthcare settings.

Interoperability can allow authorized providers to access relevant clinical information, reducing duplication and helping maintain continuity when patients move between primary, secondary and specialized care.

The BRICS digital health dialogue held in July specifically focused on interoperable data infrastructure and responsible AI as enablers of continuity of care. WHO similarly identifies interoperability and data sharing as important foundations for effective digital health systems.

What Are the Challenges of Digital Health and AI Adoption in Healthcare?

The expansion of digital health also creates challenges around data privacy, cyber security, interoperability, infrastructure, digital literacy and clinical validation.

Fragmented systems can prevent information from moving effectively between providers, while unequal internet access can exclude communities that digital health is intended to serve.

WHO has warned that fragmented digital initiatives can widen urban-rural inequalities if they are not aligned with national health-system priorities.

For BRICS countries, the next phase therefore requires common learning, responsible AI governance, workforce training and interoperable infrastructure.

The New Delhi Declaration's focus provides a framework for that cooperation, but implementation at national and local levels will determine how effectively digital health translates into continuous, accessible care.