The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the Digital Ethics Centre at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands as its collaborating centre on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for health governance. The announcement was made in a statement issued by the WHO from Geneva.
Delft University of Technology, the oldest and largest Dutch public technical university, is renowned for its cutting-edge research and innovation. The WHO highlighted the Digital Ethics Centre’s decades-long history of pioneering work in responsible innovation and its leadership in integrating ethical values into the design requirements for digital technologies.
The WHO emphasized that AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, save lives, and improve health and well-being. However, it stressed that realizing these benefits requires collaboration among stakeholders committed to robust governance, ethical safeguards, and evidence-based policies.
The designation of the Digital Ethics Centre as a WHO collaborating centre marks the continuation of a strong partnership between the two entities. In the past, they have jointly organized international consultations, workshops, and the development of normative guidance and training.
Dr. Alain Labrique, the Director of Digital Health and Innovation at the WHO, stated that the organization is dedicated to helping member states plan, govern, and adopt responsible AI technologies. “We are witnessing remarkable progress, with AI poised to transform health systems and support individuals on their health journeys. To ensure these benefits reach everyone ethically, safely, and equitably, we rely on strong technical and academic partnerships that guide us in this rapidly evolving field,” he said.
The collaborating centre will play a key role in WHO’s efforts to promote the ethical and responsible use of AI in healthcare. It will advance research on priority topics and provide expert input for the development of WHO guidance and policies.
DAILY MENTOR reports that this collaboration underscores the growing importance of ethical considerations in the deployment of AI technologies in healthcare. The partnership aims to ensure that AI innovations are harnessed for the greater good while safeguarding against potential risks and inequities.
The inauguration of the collaborating centre reflects the WHO’s commitment to fostering global cooperation in addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the health sector.