Artificial intelligence and big data in health policy and management: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis

Abstract This study aims to examine global trends in scientific publications and the main themes related to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data (BD) in health policy and management through a bibliometric analysis. It seeks to identify the roles of AI and BD in the digital transformation of health systems, the challenges encountered, and the opportunities they offer. Related research work from 2013 to 2025 was retrieved using predefined keywords search on Web of Science and Scopus databases. The 365 identified publications were analyzed using bibliometric techniques, including an analysis of publication volume, citation trends, the most prolific authors, institutions, and countries, as well as keyword co-occurrence. These analyses were visualized using R Studio software. The analysis identified a steady increase in publications on AI and BD in health policy and management over the years, with a significant citation peak in 2019, primarily driven by highly cited foundational papers in clinical epidemiology and public health informatics that defined the early scope of the field. “Machine Learning”, “Big Data”, “Artificial Intelligence”, and “Healthcare” emerged as the most frequently used keywords, showing the focus areas within the research field. The United States, China, and the United Kingdom were identified as the leading countries in scientific output in this domain. Findings confirm AI and BD’s strategic relevance to global health priorities. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored their critical role in diagnosis, treatment, and management. While key challenges such as data quality limitations, ethical concerns, and regulatory gaps exist, these technologies also present a significant opportunity to enhance cost-effectiveness and accessibility in healthcare. This bibliometric analysis maps the research ecosystem of AI and BD in health policy and management. The insights acquired can guide future policymaking processes and strategic research directions. This study’s unique contribution is providing the first comprehensive bibliometric map of this rapidly evolving research landscape, offering actionable insights for policymakers and future research agendas.