Overview

Artificial intelligence (AI) has enormous potential for improving health outcomes and helping countries achieve universal health coverage. However, for AI to have a beneficial impact on people’s health, ethical considerations and human rights must be placed at the centre of its design, development and use. Adapted from the core contents of the Guidance on Ethics & Governance of Artificial Intelligence for Health, this course introduces entry-level knowledge to policymakers, AI developers and designers, and health care providers who are involved in designing, developing, using and regulating AI technology for health.

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Syllabus

Course information

Overview

In June 2021, WHO published Guidance on Ethics & Governance of Artificial Intelligence for Health after 18 months of deliberation amongst global leading experts on the ethical challenges of the use of AI technology for health. The report identifies the ethical challenges and risks with the use of AI for health and outlines six consensus principles to make sure AI works to the public benefit of all countries. It also contains a set of recommendations to ensure the governance of AI for health maximizes the promise of such technology and holds all stakeholders accountable and responsive to end-users. Adapted from the core contents of the guidance, this course introduces entry-level knowledge to policymakers, AI developers and designers, and health care providers who are involved in designing, developing, using and regulating AI technology for health.

Course duration

Approximately 3.5 hours.

Certificates

A Confirmation of Participation certificate is offered at the end of the course.

A Record of Achievement certificate will also be available to participants who score at least 80% in the final assessment.

Participants who receive a Record of Achievement can also download an Open Badge for this course. Click here to learn how.

What you'll learn

Describe the opportunities and benefits of using AI in healthcare;
Outline the ethical considerations and explain the ethical challenges of its use;
Describe liability considerations associated with the design, development, and use of AI for health;
Summarize frameworks and regulatory considerations for the design, development, and use of such technology in the sector.

Course contents

Course Introduction:
Welcome to this course on Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence for Health. This course is introduced by Professor Effy Vayena, Co-chair of WHO Expert Group on Ethics & governance of AI for health.
Module 1: Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Health:
In this module, we will explore the current and emerging applications of AI in health care.
Module 2: Laws, Policies and Principles:
In this module, we will consider the laws, policies and principles for regulating and managing the use of AI for health.
Module 3: Ethical Principles:
In this module, we will consider ethical principles for the use of AI in health care.
Module 4: Ethical Challenges:
In this module, we will look at ethical challenges with the use of AI for health.
Module 5: Building an Ethical Approach to the use of AI for Health:
In this module, we will discuss how measures other than law and policy can ensure that AI improves human health and well-being.
Module 6: Liability Regimes for AI for Health:
In this module, we will look at how liability regimes could evolve to address the use of AI for health.
Module 7: Elements of a Framework for Governance of AI for Health:
In this module, we will look at elements for consideration for governance of AI for health.
Practical Guidance for AI Developers:
This section contains practical advice on AI guidelines and considerations for AI developers.
Practical Guidance for Ministries of Health:
This section contains practical advice on AI guidelines and considerations for ministries of health.
Practical Guidance for Healthcare Providers:
This section contains practical advice on AI guidelines and considerations for health care institutions and providers.
Course Assessment
Course Evaluation Survey
Course Credits:
The course development was coordinated by Andreas Alois Reis; Sameer Pujari; Ursula (Yu) Zhao; Shada Alsalamah; Denise Schalet; Pascoal Bento; Derrick Muneene; Ana Mafalda Dancante; Heini Utunen; Corentin Piroux. Additional inputs were received from (in alphabetical order) Housseynou Ba; Marcelo D'Agostino; Ryan Alistair Dos Santos; Mengjuan Duan; Jun Gao; Clayton Hamilton; Ahmed Mohamed Amin Mandil; David Novillo Ortiz. The course learning content was reviewed by the following experts (in alphabetical order) Partha Majumder and Effy Vayena as Co-chairs of WHO Expert Group on Ethics and governance of AI for Health; Amel Ghoulia; Kenneth W. Goodman; Lee Hibbard; Laura Lazaro Cabrera; Roli Mathur; Alexandrine Pirlot de Corbion; Jeroen van den Hoven; Robyn Whittaker.