Scaling Artificial Intelligence in Health | OECD

This report from the OECD highlights that artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly improve healthcare systems, but its impact remains constrained by fragmented data, inconsistent policies, and governance gaps. While AI is already widely used in administrative functions, its large scale clinical deployment is still limited. At the same time, risks such as biased data, privacy concerns, and limited transparency must be addressed. The key challenge is therefore to scale AI responsibly, balancing innovation with safety, trust, and equitable access, while ensuring that both institutions and individuals have the digital skills needed to engage with these technologies effectively.

To support this objective, the OECD proposes an AI in Health Policy Checklist structured around four pillars: enablers, guardrails, meaningful engagement, and trustworthiness. These include strengthening data infrastructure, ensuring interoperability, and building both technical capacity and digital skills across the health workforce and the general public. The framework also emphasises the importance of clear regulatory oversight, shared strategic objectives, and continuous monitoring of AI systems. Engagement is central, requiring meaningful involvement of patients, healthcare providers, and industry actors, alongside efforts to improve digital literacy so that stakeholders can understand, assess, and appropriately use AI tools in healthcare settings.

The report concludes that, although many countries are making progress, fragmented approaches limit the scalability and overall benefits of AI in health. Stronger international collaboration and policy alignment are necessary to reduce duplication, improve efficiency, and establish common standards. By investing not only in infrastructure and governance but also in digital skills and education, countries can ensure that AI is deployed in a way that is safe, inclusive, and effective, ultimately contributing to more resilient and equitable healthcare systems.