Beyond the Algorithm, AI, Health Equity & the Future for BAME Women
There are moments in history where everything changes, not through a viral headline, but through quiet shifts in access, behaviour and power. COVID-19 was one of those moments. But what followed may be even more defining, the silent rise of AI and digital acceleration in healthcare.
While algorithms replaced admin and remote care replaced waiting rooms, an uncomfortable truth emerged, BAME women remain underrepresented and underserved. Not just in treatment, but in the design of the very systems meant to improve our wellbeing.
Let’s break it down.
1. AI in Healthcare and Who Gets Seen
“You can’t solve what you don’t see.”
McKinsey reports that over 60% of healthcare systems now use AI. But only 3% of training datasets include BAME women. What does that mean? It means misdiagnoses are more likely. Black women’s pain goes unmeasured. Our skin tones, symptoms and silence are misread.
2. The Digital Divide: Who Gets Left Behind
“Technology should never replace touch.” - John Maxwell
We talk about innovation, but for 26% of Black women aged 45+, digital access isn’t guaranteed. Healthwatch England found that non-English speaking women were 2.5x more
3. Bias in Medical AI: When the System Fails Twice
“What if the tools we call ‘advanced’ are just reinforcing old inequities, with new language?”- Malcolm Gladwell
In 2020, a healthcare algorithm underestimated Black patients’ needs by 48%. In 2024, AI tools still fail to detect breast cancer in African women because the data isn’t there.
During COVID-19, pulse oximeters overestimated oxygen levels in Black patients. This isn’t a glitch. It’s a design flaw.
4. Mental Health: Digitally Ignored
Black women face higher rates of common mental health disorders and are the least likely to receive treatment. Now, we’re expected to engage with AI-driven apps and therapy bots that don’t reflect us, see us or speak to us. This isn’t care. It’s erasure with a user interface.
Where Do We Go From Here?
If leadership is love in action, then inclusion must be part of every innovation strategy.
Here’s what changemakers like you can do,
Demand inclusive data
Co-create digital tools
Mentor future BAME leaders in AI and health tech
Support innovation hubs in real communities, not just Silicon Roundabout
Let’s Talk About It
We don’t just need better apps, we need better ethics, better listening and stronger leadership that doesn’t leave our communities behind.
If this post gave you something to think about, like it to show solidarity. Comment if you’ve seen these patterns in your work, care or community. And share it with a colleague, changemaker or someone who needs to be part of this conversation. Together, we build the future, beyond the algorithm.
In a world being reshaped by data and digital tools, our stories, health and humanity must not be left out of the code. Join us on 28 July 2025, 6:00–7:30 PM (UK) for Beyond the Algorithm an empowering webinar for those ready to lead innovation with equity, courage and cultural truth. Register here.
