AI holds immense potential to revolutionize healthcare, save lives, and enhance overall health and well-being. However, realizing these benefits requires collaborative efforts from stakeholders committed to strong governance, ethical safeguards, and evidence-based policies.
The WHO Collaborating Centre designation acknowledges the Digital Ethics Centre’s decades-long expertise in pioneering research on responsible innovation and its leadership in embedding ethical principles into the design of digital technologies. This designation strengthens the existing partnership between the Centre and WHO, which has previously collaborated on international consultations, workshops, and the development of normative guidance and training programs.
Dr. Alain Labrique, WHO’s Director of Digital Health and Innovation, stated, “WHO is dedicated to supporting Member States in planning, governing, and adopting responsible AI technologies. We are seeing extraordinary advancements, with AI set to transform health systems and empower individuals in their health journeys. To ensure these benefits are delivered ethically, safely, and equitably, we depend on strong technical and academic partnerships to guide us in this fast-evolving field.”
The Collaborating Centre on AI for Health Governance will play a pivotal role in WHO’s mission to promote the ethical and responsible use of AI in healthcare. It will advance research on priority topics, provide expert input for WHO’s guidance and policy-making, and serve as a hub for education and advocacy. Additionally, the Centre will facilitate knowledge-sharing and training through regional and country-level workshops.
Professor Jeroen van den Hoven, Scientific Director of the Delft Digital Ethics Centre, remarked, “Building on two decades of research in digital ethics and responsible innovation, the Delft Digital Ethics Centre is a leader in translating ethical values into design requirements for digital technologies like AI. We are excited to contribute to the global health community and advance the responsible use of AI in healthcare.”
The Responsible and Ethical AI for Healthcare Lab, a joint initiative between Delft University of Technology and its partners, will offer critical insights into the challenges of implementing WHO guidance in clinical practice. Dr. David Novillo-Ortiz, Regional Adviser and Unit Head for Data, Evidence, and Digital Health at WHO’s Regional Office for Europe, added, “The designation of the Digital Ethics Centre as a WHO Collaborating Centre enhances our collective capacity to ensure AI serves public health equitably and responsibly. This collaboration will be instrumental in helping Member States navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI, fostering trust, transparency, and innovation in digital health.”
The establishment of the Collaborating Centre underscores WHO’s commitment to evidence-based AI governance, promoting its responsible use while upholding the highest ethical standards.