And in her field Health has invaded artificial intelligence (AI) providing many facilities, but experts do not hide their concern and warn of very serious risks if measures are not taken.
According to the World Health Organization, only 4 of the 50 countries it has assessed have drawn up a national strategy for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Health.
The picture for all other states is disheartening: “Patches” of rough solutionslegal ambiguity and far less preparedness than the magnitude of the technological revolution and the future that is coming at us at breakneck speed requires.
Dr. started with this data. Hans Kluge, Regional Director for Europe of the World Health Organization, in his speech in Valletta, Malta, a statement that seemed more with a “danger bell” to the governments and health systems of Europe, who treat AI as just another gadget rather than a potential agent of unwanted disruption.
Kluge: “The revolution will not be written by code, but by our choices”
The WHO regional director for Europe described two “scenarios” coming from the near future at the same time:
in the first, AI technology enhances access and eliminates inequalities
while in the second, it multiplies them
artificial intelligence, he said, “it is able to unite, but also to divide”. It can bring a diagnosis to a mother’s cell phone in a village, but it can also become a tool of exclusion if countries leave governance in the hands of technology.
The numbers that confirm the gap
The risks, however, unfortunately do exist. The WHO has published the first regional snapshot of countries’ AI readiness, with results that call for immediate interventions:
Only 4/50 countries have a national strategy specifically for AI in Health
Fewer than 1 in 4 routinely educate healthcare professionals on the potential and risks of AI
Only 4/50 have clear rules of responsibility in case of algorithm failure
43 out of 50 countries (86%) state legal uncertainty and the lack of an appropriate legal framework as a key barrier
39 out of 50 (78%) report financial constraints
According to the same study, the deficiencies undermine not only safety, but also citizens’ trust, which is – in any case – a “wound” for Health in the 21st century.
AI and the “shining examples”
But Europe has not only problems in the field of application of Artificial Intelligence, but also bright exceptions.
H. Kluge also cited examples in his speech, according to which artificial intelligence works properly and saves lives in practice:
Turkey: AI in mammography for women aged 40–69 has better accuracy and less workload for radiologists.
Slovakia: AI in radiation therapy planning cuts preparation time in half.
Finland: Applied advanced data anonymization for research without sacrificing privacy.
UK: NHS doubles stroke recovery rates thanks to AI that speeds diagnosis.
In other words: when the technology is applied according to clear rules, it works properly and saves lives, as he said.
The big bet: AI that strengthens the Health system and does not replace doctors
The central idea of H. Kluge’s speech was clear: AI should not become the “boss”, but the “tool”.
It is the responsibility of governments to create “bulwarks of values” around artificial intelligence, while its implementation – he said – should be based on ethical values, security and protect human rights.
“Technology doesn’t heal, people heal,” he pointed out. And this is also the answer to the fear that AI will replace health professionals and especially doctors.
What is proposed is the exact opposite: AI technology can “buy” time for medical staff, reduce the burnout from which all healthcare professionals in Europe suffer and make it easier for them to perform their duties better. It is enough to create the appropriate context.
The WHO’s four commandments to not lose the game
Kluge laid out four specific priorities:
Governance with purpose: Safe, ethical AI that respects rights
Invest in people: No technology works without trained staff
Trusted data ecosystems: Without trust, there is no innovation.
Cross-border collaboration: AI knows no borders – so neither should policies
Europe, he pointed out, has a “historic opportunity” to become a global leader in responsible artificial intelligence.
Finally, he closed his speech with a warning: “The real test will not be how fast AI advances, but how wisely we drive it. Humanity must take the wheel.”
Source: iatropedia.gr