WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office representative, Dr Arash Rashidian, highlighted that many ministries of health lack qualified personnel to manage health information platforms, and university programmes in health informatics remain underdeveloped.

He warned that without trained staff, ministries cannot operate the data systems needed for AI, calling for expanded university investment to produce specialists capable of handling health data and decision‑making.

Fragmented information systems, where separate platforms fail to communicate, lead to lost records, duplicate patient data and under‑reporting, making it difficult for officials to gauge population health needs.

The WHO stresses interoperability—common standards that allow different digital health tools to exchange data—so patients can move between facilities without recreating records and clinicians can access reliable information for continuity of care.

Rashidian also noted that most AI solutions being piloted in Africa are built on data from non‑African populations, raising doubts about their accuracy and suitability for local health settings.

He urged the creation of mechanisms to assess the safety, quality and effectiveness of AI tools before they are integrated into national health systems.

Conference participants highlighted that only 18 percent of African countries have a dedicated budget line for health information systems, underscoring the need for governments to prioritize domestic funding over reliance on external donors.

The discussions also emphasized data sovereignty, urging nations to retain ownership of health data while fostering regional collaboration and responsible sharing.

Overall, the WHO concludes that the speed of AI adoption will depend less on technology availability and more on building robust data infrastructure, skilled workforces, and regulatory safeguards tailored to each country’s needs.