In today’s era, technology has made its way into every sphere of our lives, and the health sector is also not untouched by it. The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to completely transform the future health infrastructure. WHO aims to build a digital future where the use of AI is safe, equitable and accessible to all. This effort is not only to improve health services, but is also an important step towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
WHO’s Vision: Better Health for All
WHO is envisioning a future in which AI will take health services to new heights and no one will be left behind. This vision is to make health services more smart, sustainable and effective. Artificial intelligence will not only enable better diagnosis and treatment of diseases, but will also help reduce health inequalities globally.
AI for Health: Three Key Pillars
WHO’s strategic approach is based on three key pillars to ensure the safe and effective use of AI:
- Strong policies and standards – Strong governance structures, policies and technical guidelines are essential for the successful and ethical use of AI. WHO is developing standards that promote evidence-based adoption and maintain public trust.
- Shared efforts and global collaboration – WHO believes that the success of AI depends on collective efforts. Therefore, it is building a global network of experts, resources and investors to share knowledge and accelerate the impact of AI in the health sector.
- Sustainable implementation model – WHO is working to ensure that AI-based health solutions are accessible and effective in different countries. For this, it is developing sustainable models, which can be easily implemented in different health systems.
Global health leadership with responsible AI
Over the past two decades, WHO has been a leader in the evaluation and adoption of digital health technologies. Now this responsibility is also moving towards the ethical and responsible use of AI. WHO aims to enable member countries to provide equitable and effective health services for all by adopting responsible AI technologies.
Opportunities and challenges of using AI
AI offers countless opportunities in the health sector – such as early diagnosis of diseases, accurate development of medicines, and prediction of epidemics. But it also brings with it some serious challenges. Technological progress has gone far beyond the legal framework, raising issues such as privacy, data security and ethics. WHO is guiding member countries, creating ethical standards and forming expert groups to deal with these challenges.
Balance between innovation and ethics
The use of AI can be successful only when a balance is maintained between innovation and ethics. In this direction, WHO, along with other specialized agencies of the United Nations (UN), has launched the Global Initiative on Artificial Intelligence for Health. This initiative is promoting responsible and ethical use of AI in the health sector globally.
Conclusion: Towards a healthy and inclusive future
AI is not just technology, but the basis of the future health revolution. WHO’s initiatives are laying a strong foundation in this direction, which will make health services more accessible, safe and inclusive in the times to come. Only when technology is used responsibly and ethically, will we be able to create a world where health will truly be for everyone.
Summary:
The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to make healthcare more effective, safe and equitable by using artificial intelligence (AI). The goal is to ensure that no one is deprived of health facilities and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The WHO strategy is based on three pillars – (1) strong policies and ethical standards, (2) global cooperation and investment, and (3) sustainable implementation models. The organization guides Member States in adopting responsible AI, helps address legal and ethical challenges, and is driving global initiatives, such as the Global Initiative on AI for Health.
Ultimately, WHO’s vision is to make healthcare smarter, safer and accessible to all by striking a balance between AI innovation and ethics.
