An AI-powered mobile clinic hits the road in Jingning She autonomous county. [Photo/Tide News]

China's efforts in promoting AI-powered mobile clinics to deliver advanced healthcare services to remote areas were recently lauded at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva.

Wu Liying, director of the health bureau of the Jingning She autonomous county in Lishui, East China's Zhejiang province, spoke about their development at a side event of the international gathering on May 19.

Delegates from countries like Thailand, Ethiopia, Peru, and Tanzania praised Jingning's approach, recognizing its potential as a model for improving equitable access to primary healthcare through digital solutions.

Jingning once faced significant healthcare access challenges due to its mountainous terrain. Since 2019, it has pioneered mobile medical services.

The upgraded mobile clinics are now equipped with advanced medical devices like electrocardiogram monitors and portable ultrasounds, offering services ranging from diagnostics to emergency care.

AI technology allows local doctors to make accurate diagnoses and prescriptions, while a cloud-based system connects them with specialists for complex cases.

A cloud-based system provides online medical consultation services for villagers. [Photo/Tide News]

Currently, seven AI-powered mobile clinics serve 67 villages in Jingning, covering over 250,000 kilometers and assisting more than 100,000 residents.

In Jingning, mobile doctors compile a list of the needs of locals each week through village health managers, family doctors, and online platforms. They then create a visitation plan based on health profiles and visit the remote villages once a week.

Jingning's healthcare service model — now expanded across Zhejiang — widely ensures comprehensive healthcare coverage for remote and rural areas.