The World Health Organization, alongside the International Telecommunication Union and the World Intellectual Property Organization, has released a technical report warning of risks associated with applying artificial intelligence to traditional medicine without safeguards.
The report was presented at the ITU’s 2025 AI for Good Global Summit and outlined how AI is being used in traditional, complementary and integrative medicine, with concerns raised about data ownership and lack of legal protections, according to a July 11 news release from WHO.
:AI must not become a new frontier for exploitation,” said Yukiko Nakatani, PhD, WHO assistant director-general for health systems. “We must ensure that Indigenous Peoples and local communities are not only protected but are active partners in shaping the future of AI in traditional medicine.”
The report also recommends national policies to regulate AI in traditional medicine, better data standards, training for practitioners and community-led approaches to digital knowledge sharing.
