Teleradiology as a Tool for Reducing Diagnostic Inequality: Literature Review of Evidence From Resource-Constrained Healthcare Systems

Background: In many regions of the world where healthcare resources are limited, access to radiologists and the infrastructure necessary for diagnostic imaging is significantly restricted. The uneven distribution of resources leads to delayed diagnosis and, as a result, poorer treatment outcomes. In response to these challenges, teleradiology enables the remote transmission and interpretation of imaging studies, which can help reduce disparities in access to diagnostic imaging. Such solutions are particularly significant in rural and hard-to-reach areas. Despite the growing trend in the number and scope of telemedicine system implementations, the effectiveness of teleradiology in the context of systematically reducing diagnostic inequalities requires further analysis. Methods: A comprehensive PubMed and Cochrane Library search was performed using broad terms not specified to subtypes of medical imaging devices, including cohort studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses from January 2020 to April 2026. Then, the articles were reviewed manually and selected based on the relevance for the review. Results: The available evidence suggests that the use of teleradiology and artificial intelligence models, in conjunction with mobile imaging systems, can effectively help address the shortage of radiologists, thereby increasing access to diagnostic imaging in healthcare and strengthening screening programs. It also facilitates multidisciplinary collaboration among specialists, leading to more accurate diagnoses and targeted treatment. Conclusions: In many low-resource regions, limited access to radiologists and diagnostic imaging infrastructure contributes to delayed diagnoses and poorer treatment outcomes. Teleradiology, by enabling remote image interpretation, may help reduce these disparities, particularly in rural and underserved areas. However, its effectiveness in systematically reducing diagnostic inequalities still requires further evaluation.