Global Health Forum 2026: AI opens new opportunities but requires human oversight
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into healthcare, it is changing not only medicine itself but also the way healthcare systems operate. The technology offers new opportunities to improve efficiency, while also creating a need for stronger safeguards and human oversight. Finding a balance between innovation and responsibility was among the key issues discussed at the Global Health Forum 2026 in Haikou.
The Global Health Forum 2026 Haikou Conference was held in Haikou City of south China's Hainan Province on Wednesday, focusing on global health governance and international cooperation.
Hosted by the Boao Forum for Asia, the event brought together participants from around the world to explore ways to strengthen international collaboration in tackling shared health challenges.
"There is still a long way to go in advancing the global health cause. We urgently need to build greater consensus, and strengthen solidarity and cooperation, so that health can serve as a fundamental foundation for ensuring sustainable and high-quality development," said Leung Chun-ying, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, while addressing the conference.
The conference covered a wide range of health-related topics, from healthy aging to cooperation in the health industry. Artificial intelligence was one of the key focuses, as the technology continues to rapidly reshape the healthcare sector.
Some of the most significant changes, however, may take place behind the scenes, without being directly visible to patients or doctors. Alain Labrique, director of the Department for Data, Digital Health, Analytics and AI at the World Health Organization, said such applications could be among the most exciting uses of the technology.
"I think some of the ways that are the most exciting are the ones we don't see. They are not helping the patient directly. They are not helping the doctor directly, but they are making the systems more efficient," Labrique said.
At the same time, concerns remain over the risks associated with AI in healthcare, particularly so-called AI hallucinations, in which systems generate convincing but inaccurate information. Guests at the event said such risks can be mitigated through proper regulation and appropriate human oversight.
"If I use a calculator and enter two plus two, but it gives me five, the responsibility lies with the person working with that machine. So the person behind the technology must be extremely careful, possess the necessary technological skills and be able to use it effectively," said Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain, Bangladesh's Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
Labrique stressed that accountability must also extend to technology developers. "It's critical that regulators and regulatory systems are in place to make sure that people have access to the right tools for what they need. And to make sure that companies and systems are accountable for when mistakes happen," he said.
Participants also noted that global health governance needs to keep pace with rapid technological change, bringing countries together to respond to both new opportunities and emerging challenges. As reported by CCTV+, strengthening international cooperation and regulatory mechanisms is becoming increasingly important as artificial intelligence continues to reshape healthcare.
