WHO/Europe has formed the Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (TAG-AI) to guide the ethical, responsible and equitable use of AI in health across the WHO European Region. The group will serve as an advisory body to the WHO Regional Director for Europe for an initial period of 2 years under the second European Programme of Work 2026–2030.
Purpose and mandate
“The selection for this group was competitive. From a pool of 330 applicants, we picked 10, based on expertise, geographical balance and gender diversity,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, while welcoming the group at the official launch event in Porto, Portugal on 24 September. “Some of you are long-time WHO partners, others are joining for the first time. Together, you form a strong, powerful team.”
TAG-AI’s core functions will include providing expert advice to WHO/Europe on integrating ethical principles, governance, regulation and oversight into AI strategies. The group will support the development of capacity-building, research and policy recommendations in emerging areas of AI, such as machine learning and natural language processing. In addition, it will advise on the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of AI in health settings to ensure safety, effectiveness, equity, human rights, transparency and accountability. Finally, TAG-AI will work to raise awareness, facilitate advocacy and help shape governance models that promote the benefits of AI in health, particularly in low-income settings and among underrepresented communities.
TAG-AI is expected to meet at least once per year, with additional meetings or working group sessions as needed. The group will aim to help Member States leverage AI’s potential to improve health outcomes while minimizing risks.
Guided by the “Digital health action plan for the WHO European Region 2023–2030”, WHO/Europe remains committed to supporting decision-making in digital health and enhancing country capacities to govern digital transformation.
Meet the TAG
TAG-AI is comprised of the following members:
Dr Cansu Canca, Director of Responsible AI Practice, Institute for Experiential AI; Research Associate Professor in Philosophy, Northeastern University, Boston, United States of America
Dr Line Farah, Advisor to the Minister of Health and Access to Care, France
Dr Georges Hattab, Adjunct Professor of Computer Science, Free University Berlin; research group leader, Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Research, Robert Koch Institute, Germany
Dr Azra Ismail, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Informatics and Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
Dr Hannah van Kolfschooten, lecturer and researcher, Law Centre for Health and Life, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
Dr Jukka Lähesmaa, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland
Dr Martin McKee, Professor of European Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
Dr Lampros Stergioulas, Professor of Data Science, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
Dr Igor Vikhrov, Head of Advanced Technologies Implementation, Tashkent Paediatric Medical Institute, Uzbekistan
Dr Eva Weicken, Chief Medical Officer, Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute for Telecommunications, Germany.