Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged governments to strengthen governance frameworks for artificial intelligence (AI), warning that unchecked use of the technology could distort health policy decisions and weaken evidence-based policymaking.
In a discussion paper released on Tuesday, WHO said AI is increasingly shaping how health challenges are identified, policies are designed and outcomes are monitored worldwide.
The agency noted that public debate has largely focused on AI in clinical care, while its expanding influence on policy development has received far less scrutiny.
“The policy conversation on AI has focused on clinical care. This paper redirects attention to where the evidence base is actually being shaped,” said Alain Labrique.
WHO warned that AI systems could introduce risks throughout the policymaking process, including biased data, cybersecurity vulnerabilities and overreliance on measurable indicators that may overlook broader social realities.
The organisation also raised concerns about what it described as “epistemic injustice”, where AI systems prioritise data-rich sources while marginalising local knowledge and lived experiences.
According to WHO, the paper aligns evidence-informed policymaking with recognised governance frameworks, including WHO AI ethics guidance, the GRADE Evidence-to-Decision framework, FAIR data principles and the OECD AI Principles.
WHO AI Lead Sameer Pujari said institutions are struggling to keep pace with rapid technological developments.
“AI is entering health policy work faster than most institutions have built the capacity to govern it.”
The agency stressed that AI should support, rather than replace, human judgement, with final decisions remaining in the hands of policymakers.
About the Author
Korede Abdullah 
Otamere Gladness 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 