WHO and South Korea adopt Seoul Declaration on AI in Healthcare

AI healthcare Seoul Declaration World Health Organization medical artificial intelligence digital health governance

At the 2026 World Bio Summit held in Seoul, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare jointly announced the ‘Seoul Declaration for Responsible Innovation and Global Solidarity in AI Healthcare’. This landmark agreement marks the first time the WHO Director-General and a member state government have co-adopted a declaration regarding medical AI principles.

The declaration emphasizes that final clinical judgment and legal or ethical responsibility must remain with humans. It outlines a framework for managing AI risks proportional to their intended use and level of danger, while promoting international cooperation to bridge healthcare gaps between high- and low-income nations. Key pillars include enhancing AI research investment, strengthening cybersecurity and biosecurity, and ensuring that technological benefits are shared equitably across different social classes and regions.

Experts at the summit, including representatives from the OECD, stressed the importance of moving beyond mere automation toward redesigning healthcare systems. Discussions focused on the need for continuous monitoring to prevent issues like AI hallucinations and the necessity of building trust through transparent governance and robust data protection.

Entities

Ministry of Health and Welfare · Seoul · South Korea · Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus · World Health Organization

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] The declaration specifies that final judgment and legal/ethical responsibility for medical AI belong to humans. www.bokuennews.com · www.imaeil.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Gachon University Gil Medical Center is establishing a ‘Smart Orthopedics’ platform using AI and robotics. www.bosa.co.kr
[● 4 SOURCES] The 2026 World Bio Summit was held at the COEX Magok Convention Center in Seoul. idsn.co.kr · www.bokuennews.com · kormedi.com · www.imaeil.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The Seoul Declaration aims to use AI to reduce healthcare gaps between regions and nations. idsn.co.kr · www.bokuennews.com · www.imaeil.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Stryker, Connecteve, OrthoCare, EverEx, and CGBio signed an MOU with Gachon University Gil Medical Center. www.bosa.co.kr
[● 3 SOURCES] The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the WHO jointly announced the ‘Seoul Declaration for Responsible Innovation and Global Solidarity in AI Healthcare’. idsn.co.kr · www.bokuennews.com · www.imaeil.com