BACKGROUND: With the rapid development of digital transformation driven by big data and artificial intelligence in China, the field of public health is undergoing profound transformations. This study introduces technological innovation as a mediating variable into an analytical framework to systematically explore the impact of digital transformation on public health and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Using panel data from 31 provinces in mainland China from 2010 to 2019, this study empirically investigated the impact of digital transformation on public health via two-way fixed-effect analysis. Moreover, the internal mechanism was determined by testing the mediation effect of technological innovation. RESULTS: The research findings showed a significant positive relationship between digital transformation and improvements in public health. Mediation effect analysis indicated that digital transformation enhances public health by fostering technological innovation. Additional analysis revealed that the promoting effect in the central and western regions of China is more pronounced than that in the eastern regions. CONCLUSION: This study unveils that digital transformation significantly improves public health, especially through enhanced technological innovations that achieve health improvement, and proposes specific recommendations for future health development strategies. It not only offers a scientific foundation for government digital health policies but also provides a forward-looking perspective for academics engaged in the field of digital transformation and public health. Additionally, it empirically verifies the differential impacts of digital technology on public health across regions, provides scientific references for optimizing health resource allocation and narrowing regional health gaps, and contributes empirical findings toward achieving a Healthy China.