The Forgotten Promise

Healthcare is often overlooked in conversations about human rights.

While freedom of speech and political participation regularly dominate debates, the right to health—enshrined in international law—remains less visible. Yet, its importance is undeniable.

From maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa to the rising costs of chronic disease management in the West, inequalities in healthcare access reveal one of the greatest unfinished promises of the modern human rights movement.

The Human Rights Framework

The recognition of health as a human right dates back to the aftermath of World War II. In 1948, the World Health Organization’s Constitution declared health – ‘a fundamental right of every human being‘.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) that same year embedded healthcare within the right to an adequate standard of living.

In 1966, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) provided further legal grounding, recognizing – ‘the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’.

Later, the UN’s General Comment No. 14 (2000) articulated the key principles: availability, accessibility, acceptability, quality, and participation.

Despite this framework, progress has been uneven. States remain obligated to respect, protect, and fulfill the right to health, but realization has lagged, constrained by resources, governance, and political will.

The History of Health Technology

The 20th century saw healthcare transformed by medical science: antibiotics, vaccines, and surgical innovation.

The late century brought digitalization, with electronic health records and online platforms like NetDoktor in Denmark.

While intended to streamline care, digital systems often added new layers of bureaucracy, demanding more of ‘clinicians’ time rather than less. The tension between technology’s promise and its unintended consequences continues to shape healthcare today.

Denmark as a Laboratory

Denmark has a history of pioneering digital health, supported by a culture of trust in government institutions and high levels of digital literacy.

It was here that Dr. Carl Brandt, physician and founder of NetDoktor, launched – People’s Doctor – an AI-powered assistant designed not to replace doctors but to support them.

The platform listens to consultations, generates structured notes, and ensures compliance with GDPR and the EU AI Act. In trials across nearly 40 clinics, the AI has reduced administrative work by up to 75 percent, giving doctors more time with patients.

Backed by EIFO, Denmark’s state investment arm, – People’s Doctor – represents the next chapter in the country’s digital health story.

The Crisis of Time in Medicine

Across Europe and North America, doctors spend more than half their working hours on administration.

The result: shorter consultations, weaker doctor-patient relationships, and widespread burnout.

The pressure has only intensified as populations age and chronic conditions rise.

AI promises to reverse this trend by giving time back to medicine. If successful, it could help restore trust and human connection to healthcare systems, increasingly defined by waiting lists and screen time.

Africa’s Test Case

Nowhere are healthcare challenges more stark than in Africa.

Nigeria has one doctor for every 17,000 people, compared to 1:1,600 in Denmark.

Rural regions often lack clinics, laboratories and electricity.

Diseases are diagnosed too late, and treatment—when available—is frequently unaffordable.

Historically, international efforts have sought to bridge these gaps, from missionary hospitals to WHO-led vaccination campaigns and large-scale HIV treatment programs. But gaps persist.

For – People’s Doctor – Africa is not just a challenge; it is an opportunity to test whether AI can leapfrog traditional models and deliver care where doctors cannot.

Technology’s Potential

The vision is bold: … ‘a doctor in your pocket‘!

Trained on thousands of real clinical interactions, People’s Doctor already achieves 84 percent diagnostic accuracy, with ambitions of 92–98 percent.

Available in 199 languages, it provides medical advice around the clock at no cost to patients.

By integrating with low-cost Internet of Things (IoT) devices, the system could detect early warning signs of malaria, diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis, and pregnancy complications.

Distribution through African telecoms such as MTN and Telecel could replicate the success of M-Pesa, which revolutionized financial inclusion.

If healthcare can follow a similar path, millions could gain access to essential services overnight.

The Financing Dilemma

A free service raises an obvious question: who pays? The answer may lie in data.

Each user generates anonymized health information, a resource valued at over USD 200 billion globally.

Instead of funneling profits to Big Tech, – People’s Doctor – proposes a self-financed model where anonymized data is brokered responsibly to pharmaceutical firms and research institutions. Revenues cover infrastructure, while citizens share the value through a digital token, People’s Coin.

It is a radical attempt to democratize healthcare financing, contrasting with traditional tax-based systems like the NHS or insurance-based systems like Medicaid.

The model raises difficult questions about privacy, consent, and inequality—but also offers a glimpse of a new economic logic for health.

Rights, Risks, and Responsibilities

The intersection of AI and healthcare is fraught with ethical complexity. Algorithms can misdiagnose, replicate biases, or create dependencies.

Who is responsible when an AI-driven recommendation goes wrong?

For human rights advocates, these risks must be weighed against the moral imperative to extend healthcare to those currently excluded.

If AI can bring availability, accessibility, and quality, it could advance—not undermine—human rights. Yet technology alone is not enough: connectivity, literacy, and governance remain essential.

A Leapfrog Moment?

Some observers believe Africa could leapfrog directly into AI-enabled healthcare, just as it leapfrogged into mobile banking.

By bypassing legacy infrastructure, countries could build new systems from the ground up.

Political leaders are beginning to take notice: UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pointed to ‘a doctor in your pocket’ as a potential revolution. But scaling will require trust, regulation, and sustained partnerships between governments, companies, and communities.

Looking Ahead

The right to health has been part of international law for more than 70 years, yet remains elusive for billions.

People’s Doctor is one experiment in closing that gap. Success will depend not only on technology but also on governance, equity, and global solidarity. If it succeeds, healthcare may finally shift from aspiration to reality for those who need it most.

The future of medicine may be less about hospitals and more about access—anytime, anywhere, for everyone.

NB: If you want to get in touch with the company – People’s Doctor – in Denmark, – use this link!

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Yours sincerely

The Editorial Team

ThePeoplePress.com

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