WHO Establishes AI Health Center at Delft University

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the Digital Ethics Center at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands as a WHO Collaborating Center on AI for health governance. This designation represents a continued partnership between WHO and the center, aimed at ensuring the ethical and responsible use of AI in healthcare.

"WHO is committed to helping Member States plan, govern, and adopt responsible AI technologies," says Alain Labrique, Director of Digital Health and Innovation, 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."

AI has the potential to enhance health outcomes, save lives, and improve overall well-being, reports WHO. However, leveraging AI’s benefits in a manner that is safe and equitable requires the involvement of multiple stakeholders committed to strong governance frameworks, ethical standards, and evidence-based policies. The Digital Ethics Center’s decades-long history of pioneering research in responsible innovation has made it a leader in integrating ethical values into the design of digital technologies, including AI.

As a WHO Collaborating Center, the Digital Ethics Center will play a vital role in advancing research on priority AI topics. It will also contribute to WHO’s policy-making efforts and development of guidance related to the ethical use of AI in health. The center is set to serve as a hub for education and advocacy, fostering knowledge-sharing and training through regional and country-level workshops.

"The fruit of two decades of research in digital ethics and responsible innovation, the Delft Digital Ethics Center is one of the frontrunners in operationalizing ethical values into design requirements for digital technologies such as artificial intelligence," says Jeroen van den Hoven, Scientific Director, Delft Digital Ethics Center. 

The Responsible and Ethical AI for Healthcare Lab, a collaboration between Delft University of Technology and its partners, will provide valuable insights into the challenges of implementing WHO guidance in clinical practice. 

"The designation of the Digital Ethics Center at Delft University of Technology as a WHO Collaborating Center 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," says David Novillo-Ortiz, Regional Adviser and Unit Head for Data, Evidence and Digital Health, WHO.