AI doctor app fills China's rural healthcare gap
An artificial intelligence medical platform launched by Ant Health in mid-2025 is handling over 10 million daily consultations, with most users coming from smaller cities and rural areas where specialist access remains limited.
The app, called AQ, provides health guidance and connects patients to real doctors. It addresses a structural problem in China's healthcare system: while major cities like Beijing and Shanghai have world-class hospitals, patients from smaller towns often travel hours to reach specialists.
Qian Zhifang, a 65-year-old factory worker in rural Hubei province, used the app after her smartwatch flagged elevated blood pressure. She received immediate guidance on salt intake and advice on when to see a doctor-without the hours-long trip to Wuhan.
"For someone like me, it feels like having a family doctor at home," she said.
How the system works
AQ draws on clinical guidelines, peer-reviewed journals, and partnerships with over 5,000 hospitals and 300,000 physicians. The company says monthly active users have tripled since launch.
More than 55 percent of users live in third-tier cities or smaller communities, where access to top hospitals is difficult. The platform is designed to assist doctors, not replace them, according to Shen Yunfang, head of communications at Ant Health.
"People often need guidance before they ever see a doctor, and support after they leave the hospital," Shen said. "Our goal is to help users understand their health situation earlier, while making sure they still seek professional medical care when needed."
The app addresses a common inefficiency: patients crowding into large urban hospitals for conditions that could be handled elsewhere. By providing early guidance, the system aims to reduce unnecessary hospital visits while directing patients to appropriate care when needed.
For more on AI for Healthcare applications, see our coverage of how organizations are deploying these tools in clinical settings.
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