Building Trust in AI for Health: APRU 2025 Workshop Focuses on Ethics, Equity, and Capacity

As health systems worldwide accelerate their adoption of artificial intelligence, the challenge is no longer just about innovation—but about inclusion, ethics, and readiness. On 28 October 2025, Universiti Malaya hosted the APRU Global Health pre-conference workshop titled “Preparing Health Systems for the Future of AI for Health: Ethical Challenges and Lessons Learnt.” The event brought together thought leaders, policymakers, academics, and industry experts to co-develop a vision for ethical and equitable digital transformation in healthcare across the Asia-Pacific region.

Towards an Ethical Digital Future

Framed around questions of public voice, trust, and capacity building, the workshop stressed that AI in health will only succeed when communities are engaged, and when health professionals are equipped to use and explain digital tools. Participants were encouraged to reflect on:

How to involve patients and communities in AI-related decisions
What training clinicians and health staff need now
How to communicate the benefits and risks of AI clearly and responsibly
Ways countries can share insights and build regional learning platforms

Programme Highlights

Welcome Remarks: Christina Schönleber (APRU) opened the workshop, setting the tone for a collaborative and action-oriented dialogue.
Plenary Presentations:
- Peter Sy (University of the Philippines) addressed foundational ethical principles for AI in health.
- Hannah Yee-Fen Lim (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) shared legal and regulatory perspectives on data governance and responsibility.
- Vivek Jason Jayaraj (Ministry of Health, Malaysia) provided insights into national strategies and the role of government stewardship.
Cross-Stakeholder Panel:
- Cormekki Whitley (Data.org) and Eleni Dimokidis (Amazon Web Services) discussed the critical role of inclusive design and multi-sectoral partnerships.
- Moderated by Prof Sanjay Rampal (Universiti Malaya), the panel underscored the importance of trust-building and ethical governance.
Round-Table Sessions: Participants engaged in hands-on group discussions to co-create solutions and frameworks for ethical AI deployment, focusing on community engagement, workforce readiness, and regional knowledge-sharing.
Report Back and Live Consensus Editing: The workshop concluded with a live drafting session to consolidate key recommendations, setting the stage for ongoing dialogue and action.

Reflections for Public Health

The workshop’s message was clear: AI must be guided by human values, not just technical possibilities. In public and occupational health, this means co-designing tools with communities, training professionals in both use and communication of AI, and ensuring that digital innovations close gaps rather than widen them. Regional collaboration—sharing what works, what doesn’t, and why—will be essential for building systems that are both future-ready and fair.