Artificial Intelligence in Public Healthcare Supply Chains: Current Applications, and Future Policy Directions

Abstract

Background: Despite the rapid advancements in digital transformation, Healthcare Supply Chain Management (HSCM) in the public sector faces systemic vulnerabilities, including demand fluctuations, inefficient resource distribution, and operational bottlenecks. While Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents transformative opportunities to mitigate these challenges, there remains a critical gap in the scientific understanding of how AI tools can be effectively integrated into public healthcare supply networks within appropriate policy and governance frameworks.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the contributions of AI to HSCM in the public sector. Specifically, it seeks to identify current operational applications, analyse institutional and technological challenges, examine emerging AI techniques, and propose strategic policy directions to enhance the study and practice of public healthcare logistics.

Methods:  A systematic literature review was conducted across major academic databases to analyse current scholarly contributions at the intersection of AI, public health management, and supply chain operations. The retrieved studies were critically appraised and synthesised to map existing AI integration stages, identify operational barriers, and formulate future policy recommendations.

Results: The findings reveal that AI applications significantly enhance public healthcare supply chains by optimising core operational dimensions, including predictive demand forecasting, automated inventory control, smart logistics routing, and proactive risk analysis. Furthermore, the synthesis demonstrates that AI-driven solutions improve resource allocation transparency, reduce waste, and strengthen operational resilience against unexpected public health crises.

Conclusions: Artificial Intelligence serves as a vital strategic instrument for building resilient, efficient, and cost-effective public healthcare supply chains. To fully capitalise on these technological advancements, healthcare authorities must establish robust policy frameworks, address data governance and institutional challenges, and promote cross-sectoral collaboration between public health institutions and technology providers.