WHO urges tighter ethical oversight for AI-driven health research worldwide

The World Health Organization released a report stating that existing ethical frameworks are not fully equipped to manage the emerging risks of artificial intelligence in health research. It points to concerns over data privacy, algorithmic bias, fairness, transparency and the accelerated transition of AI prototypes into clinical use, which can quickly expose patients to unvetted problems. WHO proposes a more coordinated oversight system that involves research ethics committees as well as funders, data-access committees, scientific journals, professional societies and regulatory agencies.

The report calls for better ethics training, early risk identification, greater openness about known hazards, and responsible treatment of data workers. Special attention is given to low- and middle-income nations, where AI initiatives often rely on local data without sufficient local leadership or expertise. WHO cites India’s 2023 ethical guidelines as a model and stresses that standards must evolve alongside AI technologies to safeguard human rights, equity and public trust.