Middle East and South Asia nations champion AI governance and digital health at 79th World Health Assembly

Kuwait, Oman and India used the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva to advance calls for stronger artificial intelligence governance, digital health infrastructure and international cooperation in healthcare, with all three nations highlighting national progress while urging a coordinated global response.

The assembly, held under the theme “Reshaping Global Health: A Shared Responsibility,” brought together health ministers and senior officials from WHO member states to address a broad range of global health priorities.

Cybersecurity and AI regulation

Kuwait’s delegation, led by Ministry of Health Undersecretary Sheikh Dr Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah, co-organised a high-level side event on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence in health systems alongside Canada, Poland and Colombia, in cooperation with the WHO and the International Telecommunication Union.

Sheikh Dr Salman called for stronger ethical and regulatory frameworks governing AI in healthcare, greater protection of health data and clearer accountability in AI-assisted medical decision-making. He also urged enhanced readiness of digital health systems to address rising cyber threats and the development of resilient digital infrastructure capable of sustaining essential services during disruptions.

His participation was cited as recognition of Kuwait’s experience in medical liability legislation, stemming in part from his prior role as head of Kuwait’s Medical Liability Authority. He noted that the authority had presented Kuwait’s regulatory framework to member states and UN agencies at the previous year’s assembly.

Deploying AI at scale

Oman presented one of the more detailed accounts of operational AI deployment, co-hosting a session with Switzerland on reliable data and AI in health policymaking. Dr Ahmed bin Salem Al Mandhari, Undersecretary for Health Planning and Regulation at Oman’s Ministry of Health, described the country’s Shifa platform, which he said now connects more than 85 per cent of health institutions across the sultanate.

He said Oman had moved from exploring AI to actively applying it in clinical decision support, early diagnosis, epidemiological surveillance and health resource management, with all applications governed by frameworks to ensure privacy, safety and reliability. The expansion of virtual clinics was also cited as improving access to specialised services in remote areas and care continuity for elderly and chronic patients.

Dr Al Mandhari confirmed Oman’s support for a proposed Reliable Data Observatory and an AI summit planned for Geneva in 2027, and called for transparent data systems and international coordination to counter health misinformation.

India’s Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, addressing the plenary session on 19 May, described the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission as having created more than 880 million unique digital health identities to support longitudinal health records and continuity of care.

He also outlined India’s recently launched national AI in healthcare strategy, stating that the future of the technology in health would depend on the collective ability to build ethical and human-centric systems.

Universal coverage and global solidarity

Beyond AI and digital health, all three delegations addressed broader themes of health equity and international responsibility. Nadda highlighted Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, described as the world’s largest public health insurance scheme covering nearly 600 million beneficiaries, and referenced India’s Vaccine Maitri initiative, under which approximately 300 million vaccine doses were supplied to around 100 countries during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kuwait’s delegation addressed the human cost of regional instability, with Sheikh Dr Salman noting that attacks on civilian infrastructure directly affect healthcare services and communities. He said Kuwait’s health system had maintained uninterrupted essential services through preparedness and planning despite regional tensions, and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to cooperation with member states and the WHO.

Oman, on the sidelines of the assembly, reaffirmed support for the WHO International Convention on Pandemics, with Dr Al Mandhari calling for balanced implementation that respects national sovereignty, equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms for vaccines and treatments, and alignment with the International Health Regulations (2005).