UPDATE — AUGUST 2025: The World Health Organization’s “AI Readiness Assessment for Public Health” has moved beyond guidance into global implementation. Pilot programs are now underway across multiple regions and a new AI and Digital Health Governance Taskforce supporting member states. Since its 2024 launch, the framework has been reinforced by binding agreements like the Council of Europe AI Treaty, and fresh FDA and EMA draft rules for adaptive medical AI. Also, there have been national rollouts in countries including India, Chile, and Rwanda. In 2025, the focus is shifting from assessment to real-world deployment, with growing attention on equity, cybersecurity, and the risks of generative AI in health records.
ORIGINAL NEWS STORY:
New WHO Initiative Assesses Public Health Readiness for AI Integration
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new initiative to help healthcare organizations measure how prepared they are to adopt artificial intelligence (AI). The “AI Readiness Assessment for Public Health” provides a structured method for evaluating whether public health systems can safely and effectively integrate AI technologies to improve decision-making, strengthen health systems, and enhance patient outcomes.
AI has the potential to transform healthcare by supporting predictive analytics, improving diagnostics, and streamlining data management. However, many public health organizations still lack the infrastructure, skilled workforce, and governance needed for responsible AI adoption. To bridge these gaps, WHO experts and global AI specialists designed the AI Readiness Assessment for Public Health as a practical framework for evaluating readiness and planning implementation.
The Importance of AI in Public Health
AI can play a powerful role in addressing today’s global health challenges. From predicting disease outbreaks to optimizing treatment plans, AI helps organizations make faster, more informed decisions. In an era defined by pandemics, aging populations, and chronic disease, AI offers promising solutions to increase efficiency and improve care delivery.
However, many public health systems struggle to capitalize on AI due to gaps in technical infrastructure and workforce capacity, alongside concerns about data privacy and ethical implications. The “AI Readiness Assessment for Public Health” provides a comprehensive framework for public health systems to assess their readiness across several critical domains, including leadership, data infrastructure, workforce capability, and ethics. WHO’s leading experts crafted the framework to guide organizations in identifying strengths and weaknesses in AI adoption and create targeted strategies to bridge existing gaps.
Data Quality and Infrastructure
Reliable AI systems depend on strong data infrastructure. Yet, many health organizations face fragmented databases, outdated systems, and privacy risks. The WHO assessment guides public health leaders in improving data governance, developing scalable data architectures, and ensuring that data is secure, standardized, and high-quality.
Workforce Development
AI adoption is not only about technology—it’s about people. The framework urges public health organizations to invest in capacity building through workforce training, hiring AI specialists, and fostering collaboration between clinicians and data scientists. This focus ensures that AI tools complement human expertise rather than replace it.
Leadership and Governance
Strong leadership is essential for ethical and responsible AI use. WHO’s guidance encourages the establishment of governance structures that enforce ethical standards, protect patient data, and promote transparency in AI decision-making.
Ethical and Regulatory Considerations
Ethical considerations are central to the WHO framework. It highlights the need to address algorithmic bias, protect privacy, and prevent inequities in AI-driven healthcare. WHO recommends that organizations adopt ethical frameworks that promote fairness, inclusivity, and accountability while maintaining compliance with regulations.
Moving Forward
The AI Readiness Assessment for Public Health marks an important step toward global digital transformation in healthcare. It helps countries and organizations identify the systems, skills, and safeguards needed to deploy AI responsibly. The global health community moves closer to using AI in a way that advances health equity, transparency, and trust.
Need Help?
If you’re wondering how the WHO’s recommendations could affect your organization, reach out to BABL AI. Their Audit Experts can help you assess readiness, strengthen compliance, and prepare for AI integration across public health and healthcare.
