The Role of AI in Improving Healthcare in Zambia

A high-level roundtable discussion hosted by the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR) brought together policymakers, health professionals, and legal experts to examine the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Zambia’s healthcare system.

The meeting took place on 5 March 2026 at the SAIPAR offices in Chongwe, and was attended by various stakeholders . The discussion focused on how emerging technologies such as AI could improve healthcare delivery while highlighting the urgent need for stronger data governance and regulatory frameworks.

Key Issues Discussed

Participants noted that while Zambia has made progress in protecting personal data through the Data Protection Act, rapid technological innovation—particularly AI-powered diagnostic tools such as those used in Tuberculosis (TB) screening—is advancing faster than existing regulations.

This has created what participants described as a “legal gray zone,” where the benefits of AI must be balanced with concerns about patient privacy and ethical use of health data. Key concerns raised included:

• Informed Consent and Ethics: Ensuring that patients clearly understand how their medical information is used when processed by AI algorithms.

• Data Sovereignty and Cross-Border Transfers: The risks associated with transferring sensitive medical data to foreign servers for processing, which may fall outside Zambia’s regulatory oversight.

• Clinical Accountability: Stakeholders emphasized that AI should complement healthcare professionals rather than replace them. Participants agreed on a “Human-in-the-Loop” approach, ensuring that final medical decisions remain under the responsibility of trained clinicians.

• Infrastructure and Regulatory Gaps: While AI has the potential to address challenges in Zambia’s health system, including limited infrastructure and personnel shortages, participants stressed that these technologies must operate within clear regulatory frameworks.

Key Recommendations

To support responsible adoption of AI in healthcare while protecting patient rights, the meeting proposed several recommendations:

• Legislative Updates: Review and strengthen the Data Protection Act (2021) to include provisions related to AI systems, algorithmic transparency, and AI-generated health data.

• Regulatory Sandbox: Establish a controlled environment where AI health technologies can be safely tested under the supervision of both health and data protection authorities before large-scale implementation.

• Local Data Hosting: Invest in local cloud infrastructure to reduce reliance on foreign data servers and strengthen national data sovereignty.

• Capacity Building: Train healthcare workers on both the technical use of AI tools and the ethical and legal responsibilities associated with AI-assisted healthcare.

Conclusion

The roundtable highlighted that Artificial Intelligence presents a significant opportunity to strengthen Zambia’s healthcare system, particularly in areas such as disease diagnosis and health service delivery. However, participants emphasized that technological progress must be accompanied by strong legal frameworks, ethical safeguards, and accountable governance structures to protect patient privacy and maintain clinical responsibility.