The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted a significant disparity between the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in European healthcare and the lack of regulatory frameworks to govern their use. During a press conference held in Lisbon, WHO Europe chief Hans Henri P. Kluge emphasized that while AI is transforming healthcare—from diagnostic tools to enhanced workflows—most countries are lagging in establishing necessary regulations.
Kluge pointed out that this gap between AI implementation and governance poses serious risks, including the potential for biased algorithms to lead to incorrect diagnoses, which could have dire consequences for patients. Currently, two-thirds of the 53 countries in the WHO European Region are utilizing AI diagnostics, and half have introduced AI-powered patient chatbots. However, only a small fraction—one in 12—has developed strategies for AI governance.
Alarmingly, merely 8% of these countries possess a health-specific AI strategy, and nearly 40% lack ethical guidelines for AI applications in healthcare. Additionally, education on AI is sparse, with only 20% of countries offering training for healthcare students and just 25% providing workforce training post-education. Kluge described this situation as "concerning," noting its potential to diminish public trust in healthcare systems.
Looking ahead, the WHO plans to introduce a comprehensive Roadmap on AI and Health by 2028, aiming to address these governance challenges and foster a more equitable integration of AI in healthcare.