The warning comes in a report from the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) office in Europe, where AI is already helping doctors detect diseases, reduce administrative tasks and communicate with patients.
Technology is reshaping the way care is delivered, data is interpreted, and resources are allocated.
“But Without clear strategies, data privacy, legal barriers and investment in AI literacy, we risk deepening inequalities rather than reducing them.”said Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
Transforming healthcare
The report is the first comprehensive assessment of how AI is being adopted and regulated in health systems across the region. The survey was sent to all 53 countries there and 50 participated.
Although almost everyone recognizes how AI could transform healthcare – from diagnosis to disease surveillance and personalized medicine – only four countries have a specific national strategy and another seven are developing one.
Some countries are taking proactive measures, such as Estonia, where electronic health records, insurance data, and population databases are linked into a unified platform that supports artificial intelligence tools.
Finland has also invested in AI training for healthcare workers, while Spain is piloting AI for early disease detection in primary healthcare.
Challenges and limitations
However, across the region, regulation is struggling to keep pace with technology.
Forty-three countries, 86 percent, report legal uncertainty as their main barrier to AI adoption, while 39 (i.e. 78 percent) cite financial affordability.
Meanwhile, fewer than 10 percent of countries have liability standards for AI in health, critical for determining who is responsible if an AI system makes a mistake or causes harm.
“Despite these challenges, There is broad consensus on policy measures that could facilitate the adoption of AI.”the report said.
“Almost all Member States considered clear liability rules for manufacturers, implementers and users of AI systems to be a key factor. Likewise, guidance ensuring transparency, verifiability and explainability of AI solutions is considered essential to building trust in AI-driven outcomes.”
Always prioritize people
The WHO urged countries to develop AI strategies that align with public health goals.
They were also encouraged to invest in an AI-ready workforce, strengthen legal and ethical safeguards, engage with the public, and improve cross-border data governance.
“AI is about to revolutionize healthcare, but its promise will only come true if people and patients remain at the center of every decision”said Dr. Kluge.
“The decisions we make now will determine whether AI empowers patients and healthcare workers or leaves them behind.”
