A report newly published by the global expert body has found that ‘the technology is moving faster than our ability to govern it’, and calls for nations to legislate accordingly

The World Health Organization has warned that the rapid rise of artificial intelligence needs to be accompanied with legislation to better protect patients and health workers.

In a new report, the WHO surveyed 50 countries in the European region, including the UK, to find out how AI is being adopted and regulated in healthcare practices. It found that the majority of countries lacked the systems and safeguards needed to utilise AI effectively. 

The use of AI tools is increasing in the health systems of surveyed countries. Over 60% of countries are already using AI-assisted diagnostics, especially in imaging and detection. Meanwhile, half the nations included in the research have introduced AI chatbots for patient engagement and support.

According to the study, only four out of 50 countries have a health-specific national AI strategy with less than one in four providing AI training for health workers. In addition to this, less than 10% of countries have liability standards defining legal responsibility when AI fails.

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The WHO are calling for governments across Europe to approach the use of AI with a focus on developing technology strategies that align with public health goals, investing in an AI-ready workforce all while strengthening legal and ethical safeguards to protect the public.  The report also suggests that governments engage with the public transparently about the implementation of AI and work with other countries to improve cross-border data governance so that health data stored and collected by AI is secure.  

“Across Europe, AI is already diagnosing disease, predicting health risks, and connecting patients to services that once seemed out of reach,” said WHO regional director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge. “But the technology is moving faster than our ability to govern it. AI will define health in this century, just as sanitation, vaccination, and universal health coverage defined the last century. The real test before us is not how fast AI advances, but how wisely humanity leads it. The measure of success will be how much it improves our health and wellbeing. As we write the story of AI and health together, let’s make sure humanity always holds the pen.”

Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, director of health systems at the WHO in Europe added: “We stand at a fork in the road. Either AI will be used to improve people’s health and well-being, reduce the burden on our exhausted health workers and bring down healthcare costs, or it could undermine patient safety, compromise privacy and entrench inequalities in care. The choice is ours.”

A version of this story originally appeared on PublicTechnology sister publication Holyrood