Photo Credit : WAM
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across European hospitals is moving faster than the regulations needed to ensure its safe and ethical use, raising concerns about patient safety and public confidence in healthcare systems.
Speaking at a press conference in Lisbon on Tuesday, WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Henri P. Kluge said AI is transforming healthcare by supporting medical diagnoses, streamlining hospital operations and helping health services cope with workforce shortages. However, he cautioned that many countries have introduced AI technologies without establishing the governance frameworks needed to oversee their use.
Kluge described the widening gap between AI deployment and regulation as the biggest challenge facing healthcare today. He warned that biased or poorly designed algorithms could lead to incorrect diagnoses with serious consequences for patients. According to WHO data, two-thirds of the 53 countries in the European Region already use AI-powered diagnostic tools, while half have introduced AI-driven patient chatbots. Yet only one in 12 countries has developed a strategy to govern AI in healthcare.
The WHO also highlighted broader shortcomings in AI preparedness. Only 8% of countries in the region have a dedicated health-specific AI strategy, while nearly 40% lack ethical guidance for AI use in healthcare. Education also remains limited, with only one in five countries providing AI training for healthcare students and just one in four offering workforce training. Kluge said these gaps risk weakening public trust in health systems and confirmed that the WHO plans to introduce a Roadmap on AI and Health in 2028 to help countries strengthen governance and responsible AI adoption.
