@WHO_Europe 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐞 The WHO Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety in Athens has been delivering a training programme on AI in the context of primary health care and public health, developed together with the Ministry of Health of Greece. From early September 2026, part of that programme will be available on Pera Learning, an AI-native learning environment where learners practise with AI rather than only read about it, reaching health professionals wherever they work. The programme was developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Greece, the Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain, and the Data, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health Unit at WHO/Europe. It has been delivered in person in Athens in March and Coimbra in May 2026, and continues in that format. The modules on Pera Learning cover part of the curriculum, contextualized for the Greek primary health care setting. This is a pilot. It addresses practical limit of single in-person trainings: health professionals outside the main urban centres, including rural and island areas, are the hardest to reach. Participation requires no travel. 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒂 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 is built by the Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence Unit at WHO/Europe. AI is embedded in the lessons themselves, in tools built for specific tasks: learners test and refine their own prompts, work directly with model behaviour, and submit their own work for structured feedback. The programme is designed for primary health care professionals and multidisciplinary teams, public health experts and health-system managers in Greece. It covers foundations and limitations of AI, large language models in clinical practice, and AI for evidence-based medicine. @AdonisGeorgiadi @JoaoBreda2 @NebiBekiri_ @davidnovillo @natasha_azzmus #healthforall #digitaltransformation #AI

WHO/Europe is developing a practical regional roadmap for AI in health and proposing a new centre of excellence to help countries strengthen governance, prepare their workforce and put proven approaches into practice. AI can become a powerful public good. But only if it supports health professionals rather than replaces their judgement, reaches people who are too often left behind, and improves care in ways that patients can see, understand and trust. 3/3

In the WHO European Region, nearly 2/3 of countries are already using AI in diagnostics, and half have introduced AI-powered patient chatbots. Yet only 8% have a dedicated health-specific AI strategy, only 1 in 5 provides AI education for health professionals before they qualify, and almost 40% still lack practical guidance on the ethical use of AI in health. Countries now need to act on three fronts: set clear rules for responsibility, liability and how health data are used; invest in the data systems, testing and workforce training needed to use AI safely; and work together on shared standards so every country, not only the most digitally advanced, can benefit. 2/3

The promise of #AI in health is real. So are the risks when governance, ethics and workforce training fall behind. That is why @WHO_Europe and Portugal have brought 37 countries from all six @WHO regions, including Lusophone countries, together in Lisbon: to move from excitement about AI to practical action that makes it safe, trusted and useful for patients. Coming shortly after the @UN AI Scientific Panel’s preliminary report, this is the first global gathering to bring its call for stronger and more coordinated AI governance into the health context. My sincere thanks to 🇵🇹 Health Minister Ana Paula Martins for hosting this important conference and for Portugal’s outstanding leadership in advancing digital health and AI, nationally and globally. 1/3

Today in Copenhagen, I signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, Chair of Healthcare Denmark 🇩🇰, to strengthen our cooperation on digital health, health data, AI and health system innovation across the WHO European Region. Denmark has built strong experience in using health data safely, connecting patients, clinicians and researchers, and applying digital tools in ways that support health workers and improve care. Through this agreement, @WHO_Europe and @HealthcareDK will help countries learn from that experience through study visits, technical exchanges, roundtables and shared evidence. At the heart of this partnership is digital transformation that strengthens health systems, supports health workers and delivers better health for people. To read more 👉 bit.ly/449ZGVS

Congratulations to Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 and Health Minister Teymur Musayev on the presentation of the Medical Digital Twin System – an ambitious step in the country’s digital health transformation. The hands-on demonstration showed how a comprehensive digital platform can support patients, clinicians and policy-makers – helping reduce repeated tests, strengthen prevention, enable real-time public health monitoring, and support decision-making with strong data security and safeguards. I am grateful to Mr Robb Butler, my Special Representative, for representing me at the event, which brought together more than 500 clinicians, health leaders, hospital managers, government institutions and partners. WHO/Europe stands ready to continue working with Azerbaijan on people-centred digital innovation that strengthens health systems and improves health for all. @AzmissionUN | @azmissiongeneva

“We are trained to diagnose disease, not to prevent it - and this must change.” This powerful reflection shaped our exchange with H.E. Dr Samuel Roger Kamba, Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), together with my brother @ProfJanabi. We agreed that universal health coverage cannot be achieved by the health sector alone. Prevention, mental health, water, infrastructure, logistics and safety all shape whether people can live healthier lives and access care when they need it. We discussed how collaboration between the African and European Regions can support DRC’s priorities: from surveillance and preparedness, digital health and access to medicines, to prevention of noncommunicable diseases and stronger supply chains where last-mile delivery is critical.

As public health leaders, we will be judged by one measure: how we used technology and AI to improve health for all, everywhere. At the World Health Summit in Nairobi, I joined a ministerial session on sovereignty in health data, digital health and AI. The discussion centred on trust: who uses health data, for what purpose, and with what benefit for people. These questions are highly relevant for the European Region too, where over 90% of Member States report legal uncertainty around responsibility for AI use. Both regions have progress to build on and gaps to close. That is why I believe interregional collaboration can bring real value. The discussion made one thing clear: digital health and AI must be matched by clear governance, trained health workers, strong infrastructure and public trust. Otherwise, their promise will remain out of reach. #WHSNairobi2026

But innovation alone is not enough. We need trust, clear rules, better digital and AI literacy, and health workers need to be involved every step of the way. That is why @WHO_Europe supports countries with policy, guidance, and evidence. We are also using AI internally to work more efficiently and deliver greater impact for Member States. As health leaders, we will be judged by how we seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to use AI to improve care and leave no one behind. 2/2

I firmly believe that, as public health leaders, we will be judged against one metric: how did we use technology and AI to improve health for all, everywhere. Speaking at #EB158, I stressed that digital transformation could be the greatest accelerator of equity in health or the fastest way to deepen the divide. The difference will be the choices we make today. We at @WHO_Europe support Member States with evidence-based guidance, trusted norms and standards, providing a neutral platform to work through what is safe, ethical and effective. I am grateful to Portugal and Malta for their support in moving this agenda forward in the European Region, and the @EU_Commission for helping to build digital capacity and strengthen health information systems. If we work together and learn from each other, we can set shared standards so technology improves quality of care, eases pressure on health workers, and expands access for all. #HealthForAll