The Research on the Selection and Optimization of Policy Instruments for Promoting Artificial Intelligence in China's Primary Healthcare

Abstract

Primary healthcare serves as the foundational network of China's medical and health service system. Artificial intelligence technology provides a new pathway to address core challenges such as shortages of primary healthcare resources, insufficient service capacity, and uneven regional development. Policy instruments are the key lever for promoting the implementation and adoption of Al in primary healthcare. Based on the Rothwell & Zegveld policy instrument classification framework, this paper constructs a three-dimensional analytical system comprising supply-side, demand-side, and environmental instruments. It reviews policy texts related to Al in primary healthcare in China since 2017 and analyzes the structural characteristics and practical dilemmas in the selection of current policy instruments. The study finds that the policy instruments for promoting Al in China's primary healthcare suffer from notable issues, including structural imbalance, insufficient cross-sector collaboration, lack of precise adaptability, and weak implementation support. Accordingly, this paper proposes systematic optimization pathways from four aspects: optimizing the structure of policy instruments, strengthening multi-dimensional collaboration, enhancing differentiated adaptation capabilities, and consolidating the supporting system. These recommendations aim to provide theoretical reference and practical guidance for promoting the high-quality adoption of Al in China's primary healthcare, strengthening the foundation of primary health services, and advancing the Healthy China Initiative.