WHO Publishes Guidelines on Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the guide "Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence in Health: Guidelines on Large-Scale Multimodal Models", a document that sets out principles and recommendations for the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the health sector.
Large Multi-Modal Models ( LMMs) represent a significant evolution in AI, capable of processing and interpreting multiple types of data, such as text, images, videos and biomedical signals, to generate complex answers. Their applicability is vast, covering areas such as clinical diagnosis, medical decision support, drug development, scientific research and public health monitoring.
However, despite their potential, the WHO warns of critical challenges that require strict regulation and supervision. Issues such as algorithm security and reliability, data bias, protection of patient privacy and transparency in decision-making are central to ensuring that the implementation of these models benefits health systems in an ethical and equitable manner.
Principles for the Responsible Implementation of AI in Healthcare
The WHO report proposes a set of fundamental principles to guide the use of LMMs in the health sector, including:
Transparency and explainability - Ensuring that the decisions generated by AI models are understandable to healthcare professionals and patients.
Privacy and data protection - Establish strict security standards to avoid the risk of sensitive information being exposed or misused.
Equity in access - Minimizing inequalities in the use of AI, ensuring that the benefits of these technologies are distributed fairly and accessible to all populations.
Human oversight and accountability - Ensure that the use of AI in healthcare is complemented by medical oversight and appropriate regulation, reducing the risk of harmful automated decisions.
With this guide, the WHO reinforces the need for a solid regulatory framework for the safe and effective adoption of Artificial Intelligence in health. The responsible implementation of these models could bring significant advances, but requires a commitment to ethics, transparency and the protection of patients' rights.
You can read the full guide and learn about all the WHO's recommendations below.
