The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a stark warning that rogue artificial intelligence systems posing as doctors could kill patients if left unchecked, as health services rush to deploy AI without adequate safeguards. Dr Hans Henri Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, cautioned that a lack of proper training and oversight could result in AI-driven mistakes with a high human cost.
Current AI Deployment Outpaces Governance
Speaking at a health conference in Lisbon, Portugal, Dr Kluge revealed that only 8% of countries in the WHO European Health Region have a specific AI health strategy, despite nearly two-thirds already using AI in medical diagnostics and half deploying AI-powered patient chatbots. This governance gap, he warned, poses serious risks to patient safety.
Dr Kluge stated: "Here in Portugal, AI-powered image analysis is helping clinicians identify thoracic diseases and bone fractures faster, reducing waiting times in primary care and emergency settings. Real patients receiving better care today because of AI. But the governance picture across the European Region is concerning."
Lack of Training and Ethical Guidance
The health chief highlighted that only one in five countries provides AI education for health professionals before they qualify, and just one in four offers training once they are in the workforce. Fewer than half have assessed whether their legal frameworks are fit for purpose. He added: "Almost 40% of countries still have no ethical guidance on AI use in health at all. The longer governance lags behind deployment, the higher the human cost."
Dr Kluge emphasised the real-world consequences of flawed AI diagnostics: "A biased algorithm can produce a wrong diagnosis, for a real patient, with real consequences. A health worker trained to trust an AI system they can’t interrogate is not empowered, leading to mistakes outside their control. And all of this erodes public trust in health systems more broadly."
Urgent Need for Action
The WHO official called for urgent improvements in the control of AI-based technology in hospitals to prevent harm. He stressed that without proper governance, the rapid adoption of AI could lead to catastrophic outcomes, including patient deaths. The warning comes as health systems increasingly rely on AI for diagnostics, patient interaction, and treatment recommendations.
