On Wednesday 21 October in Seoul, Republic of Korea, the IHF President, Dr Henry Gallardo, took the stage at the World Bio Summit – which was held in conjunction with the IHF’s 49th World Hospital Congress. He addressed the Opening Ceremony and gave congratulatory remarks at the launch of the Seoul Declaration on AI in Healthcare, alongside Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, and Her Excellency Eun Kyeong Jeong, Minister of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea.

Speaking on behalf of the IHF’s community of members worldwide, Dr Gallardo stated:

Our network is united in the belief that global learning leads to local action for every patient, and that peer exchange amongst hospital and healthcare leaders can raise the standard, quality, and level of service delivery.

The vision with which we shape how we adopt, scale, and innovate with AI will define this generation of hospital leaders. This is a core theme in the programme of the World Hospital Congress this week, echoing this focus at the World Bio Summit.

Today, together, we will mark a significant milestone in international collaboration for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. We are taking steps to move beyond discussion and into action.

In this spirit, the International Hospital Federation welcomes the Seoul Declaration on AI in Healthcare and congratulates WHO and the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea for advancing this important global dialogue.

The IHF supports the Declaration’s overall direction and its guiding principles for the responsible, safe and equitable use of AI for the benefit of patients, families and communities.

The IHF has approved a strategy to help hospital leaders translate these principles into practice through knowledge exchange, leadership development and practical guidance. We look forward to working with WHO, the Korean Ministry and other partners to advance the responsible use of AI across hospitals and health systems.

This is a moment to remind ourselves of what is possible when expertise, collaboration, and shared purpose come together across borders. And – critically – we should focus on the importance of continuous collaboration as the key to success in delivering on our commitments.  On behalf of the IHF, we are honoured to cooperate with you on this initiative.

Once again, congratulations to the organizers and to everyone contributing to the work ahead. May the commitments we make today translate into better care, better health outcomes, and greater equity for patients worldwide.