Global WHO Conference: Shaping AI in Health

WHO/Europe and the Government of Portugal will co-host a global, high-level conference on artificial intelligence (AI) in health on 15–16 July 2026. The event will bring together senior government officials, regulators, clinicians, civil society, multilateral organizations, academia and industry representatives from around the world. The conference aims to translate political commitment into coordinated, practical and equity-oriented action on AI in health and care. It will take stock of what is already working, identify where tangible value is being delivered and ensure that countries are supported in scaling successful approaches while avoiding common implementation failures. Discussions are designed to be relevant and adaptable to countries at different levels of digital maturity and health system capacity. Particular attention will be given to: · governance and strategic leadership for AI in health; · legal, ethical and accountability frameworks, including liability and risk management; · data governance, digital infrastructure and interoperability as prerequisites for trustworthy AI; · workforce preparedness, institutional capacity and sustainable implementation models; and · responsible AI investment strategies and frameworks. The conference is anchored in WHO’s global and regional strategic priorities. The Fourteenth General Programme of Work 2025–2028 underscores the centrality of resilient, data-driven health systems, while the Second European Programme of Work 2026–2030 recognizes that digital transformation, including the responsible adoption of AI, must be grounded in equity, human rights, interoperability and institutional capacity. Participation is by invitation only, but selected sessions will be available via livestream.