WHO Explores AI Integration in Health Policy for Low- and Middle-Income Countries

In late September 2025, the World Health Organization's Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) convened a meeting in Montreux, Switzerland, to explore the responsible and equitable integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into health policy and systems research (HPSR), with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. Read more.

The two-day consultation, held from September 30 to October 1 at the Eden Palace Hotel, brought together a diverse group of experts, including researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. The primary objective was to assess AI's potential to enhance research capacity, facilitate evidence generation, and support the translation of evidence into policy, all while emphasizing the need for transparency, governance, and equity to prevent reliance on a limited number of global platforms.

Enhancing Research Capacity

A significant portion of the discussions centered on AI's role in broadening research capacity. Participants highlighted how AI can lower entry barriers for smaller research teams and foster mentorship, peer learning, and multilingual collaboration. Dr. Gauden Galea emphasized the importance of the open-source community in AI advancements, advocating for its utilization in HPSR.

Evidence Generation and Synthesis

The consultation also addressed AI's potential to accelerate systematic reviews and data analysis. Gabriel Rada from Epistemonikos cautioned against over-reliance on AI without rigorous methods, stating, "Systematic reviews were created to correct bias. If you just ask ChatGPT to summarize ten studies, the result isn’t reliable, because not all studies have the same weight. AI must be integrated into rigorous methods, not replace them."

Evidence-to-Policy Translation and Governance

Discussions explored AI's capacity to support evidence-to-policy translation through generating multilingual briefs and mapping stakeholder positions. Concerns were raised about governance, equity, and data sovereignty, with calls for regional networks and shared frameworks to prevent dependency on a limited number of global platforms. Participants underscored that AI should respond to the actual needs of health systems and researchers, grounded in equity considerations.

Launch of AI-Powered Search Tool

Coinciding with the meeting, the Alliance introduced the Alliance HPSR search tool, an AI-powered platform designed to enhance access to insights from Alliance-supported publications and journal articles. This tool aims to make evidence more accessible to researchers, policymakers, and practitioners worldwide.

Future Outlook

Insights from the consultation will inform a comprehensive report, scheduled for release in 2026, on the responsible and equitable deployment of AI in HPSR to strengthen health systems and improve outcomes. Kumanan Rasanathan, Executive Director of the Alliance, highlighted both the excitement and the responsibility that comes with AI’s rise: "We were excited to hear about how AI is changing research methods. But as we drive this work forward, we also want to find areas where HPSR itself can shape the development of AI tools – perhaps for more specific HPSR methods. AI holds lots of potential, but there are also many risks - our task is to manage these risks to ensure it strengthens health policy and systems research methods and approaches, taking particular care of its impact on equity."

Background on the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR)

Established in 1999, the AHPSR is an international partnership hosted by the WHO. Its mission is to promote the generation and use of health policy and systems research as a means to strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries. The Alliance focuses on supporting research initiatives, capacity strengthening, and knowledge translation to inform health policy and practice.

Social and Societal Implications

The emphasis on equitable AI integration addresses concerns about the digital divide and ensures that AI advancements benefit all countries, particularly low- and middle-income nations. The discussions on governance and data sovereignty highlight the need for frameworks that prevent over-reliance on a few global platforms, promoting regional autonomy and control over health data. By lowering entry barriers and fostering collaboration, AI has the potential to democratize health research, enabling smaller teams and under-resourced institutions to contribute meaningfully to the field.

Comparative Context

The AHPSR has a history of convening consultations and workshops to address pressing issues in health policy and systems research. While AI has been increasingly integrated into various sectors, its application in HPSR is relatively nascent. This consultation represents a proactive approach to harnessing AI's potential responsibly and equitably.

As AI becomes more embedded in research systems and health decision-making, communities and those affected by policy decisions should have a meaningful role in shaping how these tools are used and what values guide them. The Montreux consultation marks an early step in a longer process. Insights from the meeting will inform a comprehensive report, to be released in 2026, on how AI can be deployed responsibly and equitably in HPSR to strengthen health systems and improve outcomes. Read more.