Newsletter Edition #332 [The Files In-Depth]
Countries’ request for the inclusion of digital health, AI governance and precision medicine on the WHO Executive Board agenda, reflects the growing political urgency. As concerns are rising about the lack of global coordination, digital innovation may exacerbate inequalities rather than strengthen universal health coverage.
Readers,
The world around us changed over the weekend with attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. We are trying to understand and assess the implications for global health politics and decision-making. We will be following up on an update in the coming days.
In today's edition, my colleague Bianca Carvalho, brings you a report from discussions on AI and digital health, that took place at WHO's Executive Board meeting in Geneva last month. Some countries want WHO to take on a greater role in navigating the interface between global health and AI. We hope you find this story useful.
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Priti Patnaik, Founder & Publisher, Geneva Health Files
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Digital Health and AI in Global Health Governance: The Discussion at the World Health Organization
By Bianca Carvalho
Carvalho is a fellow at Fiocruz, a public health research institution in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At Fiocruz, she works with the Executive Secretariat of the Global Coalition for Local and Regional Production, Innovation and Equitable Access. She holds a Master’s degree in Global Health from the Geneva Graduate Institute. She is also a writer for Geneva Health Files.
Rapid advances in artificial intelligence and digital health are reshaping health systems worldwide. It is clear that in recent years, digital health has demanded attention in the global health governance agenda. The revolutionary use of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence in the health sector, has raised concerns about data privacy, ethical governance, regulation and data sovereignty.
During the 158th Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board in February 2026, member states discussed harmonization of regulatory approaches, governance and standards for data, digital health and artificial intelligence in the health sector, based on the report submitted by the Director-General (EB158/19).
The document considered at the EB, highlights that safe implementation of AI, virtual care and precision medicine depends on robust digital health foundations, including harmonized regulatory approaches, strong digital public infrastructure, and interoperability.
The discussion set the stage for the development of thenext Global Strategy on Digital Health (2028–2033), responding to member state requests to address precision medicine, AI governance, and digital health transformation under one integrated agenda focused on strengthening foundational data systems, governance, and regulatory frameworks needed for safe, effective and equitable digital transformation of health systems.
(Last year, the World Health Assembly endorsed the extension of the Global Strategy on Digital Health to 2027 and approved the next phase for 2028–2033.)
Countries’ request for the inclusion of digital health, AI governance and precision medicine on the Executive Board agenda, reflects the growing political urgency. As concerns are rising about the lack of global coordination, digital innovation may exacerbate inequalities rather than strengthen universal health coverage. Hence, a global framework under the WHO governance is necessary to guarantee a coordinated policy rooted in ethics, data protection, accountability and transparency to ensure that digital health and AI are safe, effective and equitable.
While regulatory initiatives are already advancing in jurisdictions such as the United States and the European Union, the absence of a globally harmonized approach risks creating fragmented standards and widening regulatory disparities between countries.