Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health: WHO guidance
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World Health Organization
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xvi, 148 p.
This WHO guidance provides a comprehensive ethical and governance framework for the development, deployment and use of artificial intelligence (AI) for health. Developed by a multidisciplinary WHO Expert Group, it examines the opportunities AI offers to strengthen public health, health-care delivery, research and health systems while emphasizing that its benefits depend on ethically sound laws, policies and technologies that protect human autonomy, privacy, equity, accountability and human rights. The report also considers lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting both the value of AI applications and the ethical challenges associated with surveillance, data governance and unequal implementation. The guidance establishes six key ethical principles for AI in health: protecting human autonomy; promoting human well-being, safety and the public interest; ensuring transparency, explainability and intelligibility; fostering responsibility and accountability; ensuring inclusiveness and equity; and promoting AI that is responsive and sustainable. It analyses legal, regulatory and ethical frameworks, addresses challenges including bias, discrimination, cybersecurity, commercialization, workforce impacts and climate considerations, and proposes governance mechanisms to support responsible implementation. The report concludes with practical recommendations for AI developers, ministries of health, regulators and health-care providers, emphasizing coordinated action to ensure that AI strengthens health systems, advances universal health coverage and remains centred on the needs, rights and well-being of individuals and communities.
This WHO guidance provides a comprehensive ethical and governance framework for the development, deployment and use of artificial intelligence (AI) for health. Developed by a multidisciplinary WHO Expert Group, it examines the opportunities AI offers to strengthen public health, health-care delivery, research and health systems while emphasizing that its benefits depend on ethically sound laws, policies and technologies that protect human autonomy, privacy, equity, accountability and human rights. The report also considers lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting both the value of AI applications and the ethical challenges associated with surveillance, data governance and unequal implementation. The guidance establishes six key ethical principles for AI in health: protecting human autonomy; promoting human well-being, safety and the public interest; ensuring transparency, explainability and intelligibility; fostering responsibility and accountability; ensuring inclusiveness and equity; and promoting AI that is responsive and sustainable. It analyses legal, regulatory and ethical frameworks, addresses challenges including bias, discrimination, cybersecurity, commercialization, workforce impacts and climate considerations, and proposes governance mechanisms to support responsible implementation. The report concludes with practical recommendations for AI developers, ministries of health, regulators and health-care providers, emphasizing coordinated action to ensure that AI strengthens health systems, advances universal health coverage and remains centred on the needs, rights and well-being of individuals and communities.