WHO Board Reviews Digital Health Strategy Amid Data Sovereignty Debate

A debate on AI regulation and digital health took place at the World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board as member states discussed data ownership and governance frameworks. Low and middle-income countries raised concerns that the use of AI in health systems could lead to data extraction and inequality if governance and financing mechanisms are not addressed.

The discussion was based on a WHO report outlining a digital transformation strategy for 2028–2033, which noted fragmented systems and limited interoperability across countries. WHO officials said that limited reliable data and weak governance frameworks could hinder the use of AI in healthcare. High-income regions referred to existing guidance issued by regulators such as the European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration, while others stressed the lack of global standards. African and Caribbean nations emphasised that health data should remain under national control.

The Board agreed that the WHO Secretariat will continue technical work on the strategy in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization. The draft strategy will be presented to the board in January 2027.