Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) today officially recognized the Digital Ethics Centre at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands as a WHO Collaborating Centre focused on artificial intelligence (AI) in health governance.
The potential of AI to revolutionize healthcare, save lives, and enhance health and well-being is significant. However, realizing these benefits necessitates a collaborative effort among stakeholders who are dedicated to establishing strong governance frameworks, ethical protections, and evidence-based policies.
This new designation acknowledges the Digital Ethics Centre’s extensive history of innovative research in responsible innovation and its leadership in integrating ethical considerations into the design of digital technologies. This event signifies the ongoing partnership between the Digital Ethics Centre and WHO, which has previously involved organizing international consultations, workshops, and developing normative guidance and training initiatives.
“WHO is committed to helping Member States plan, govern, and adopt responsible AI technologies,” said Dr Alain Labrique, Director of Digital Health and Innovation at WHO. “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.”
The Collaborating Centre on AI for health governance will play a crucial role in the World Health Organization’s mission to promote the ethical and responsible application of AI in healthcare. It will drive research on essential topics and provide expert recommendations to shape WHO’s guidance and policy decisions. Furthermore, the Centre will function as a focal point for education and advocacy, promoting research grounded in science and facilitating knowledge sharing and training through workshops at various regional and country levels.
“The fruit of two decades of research in digital ethics and responsible innovation, the Delft Digital Ethics Centre is one of the frontrunners in operationalizing ethical values into design requirements for digital technologies such as artificial intelligence,” Professor Jeroen van den Hoven, Scientific Director at Delft Digital Ethics Centre noted. “We look forward to contributing to the global health community and advancing the responsible use of AI in health.”
WHo stated that the Responsible and Ethical AI for Healthcare Lab, a collaboration between Delft University of Technology and its partners, will provide valuable insight into the challenges involved in the successful implementation of WHO guidance in clinical practice. “The designation of the Digital Ethics Centre at Delft University of Technology as a WHO Collaborating Centre strengthens our collective ability to ensure AI serves public health equitably and responsibly. This collaboration will play a critical role in supporting Member States to navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI, fostering trust, transparency, and innovation in digital health,” said Dr David Novillo-Ortiz, Regional Adviser and Unit Head for Data, Evidence and Digital Health at WHO’s Regional Office for Europe.
The Collaborating Centre on AI for health underscores the World Health Organization’s pledge to evidence-based governance of AI, fostering its responsible utilization while upholding the highest ethical norms.
– global bihari bureau
