WHA79.9

Having considered the consolidated report by the Director-General;

Recalling resolution WHA71.7 (2018) on digital health, resolution WHA76.5 (2023) on strengthening diagnostics capacity, and the WHO global strategy on digital health 2020–2025,2 which collectively emphasize the critical role of digital technologies and diagnostics in achieving universal health coverage and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals;

Recognizing that diagnostic imaging, including radiology, is an essential component of healthcare, vital for the timely detection, diagnosis, management, treatment planning, and monitoring of communicable diseases, noncommunicable diseases, trauma, and maternal and child health conditions and other medical conditions, particularly in developing countries, including but not limited to small island developing States and remote and underserved areas;

Acknowledging that access to radiology services remains limited in and within many countries particularly developing countries and remote or rural areas, and noting with concern the shortage of trained and certified radiologists and other imaging professionals, which contributes to delayed or missed diagnoses and poorer health outcomes and preventable deaths;

Further noting that the absence of trained personnel to interpret images, or weak referral systems, lead to suboptimal utilization of equipment and may limit the effective use of existing imaging capacity;

Recognizing that teleradiology, the use of telecommunications technology to transmit and interpret medical images remotely, can offer a scalable, cost-effective and practical solution to help to bridge the human resource gap and extend the reach of expert diagnostic services to underserved populations;

Acknowledging that teleradiology, the secure and privacy preserving digital transmission, and remote interpretation of diagnostic images, can expand access to imaging, optimize use of limited expertise and improve quality of care, provided that the laws, regulations, standards and ethical rules governing this medical practice are respected;

Noting that, when appropriately implemented, teleradiology can contribute to the achievement of universal health coverage by increasing efficiency, supporting continuous education and strengthening preparedness and response capacities;

Recognizing that, for the integration of artificial intelligence and digital health platforms, including teleradiology, into radiology services, it is necessary to ensure that these tools are developed, validated, safely deployed and governed ethically for performance, and implemented under clinical oversight, while ensuring inclusive and equitable access, in order to optimize the use of limited expert resources, improve the quality of interpretation, and ensure timely diagnosis across diverse settings;

Concerned that uncoordinated adoption, absence of national policy frameworks, weak data protection and fragmented infrastructure may lead to unsafe deployment of teleradiology services;

Considering that the effective and ethical adoption of teleradiology, where appropriate, requires robust national policy frameworks, regulatory standards, interoperability guidelines and secure data protection mechanisms to ensure complete patient information, patient consent, patient safety and confidentiality;

Recognizing the importance of international solidarity, cooperation and investment to facilitate the sharing of expertise and best practices in teleradiology, particularly through partnerships among countries, while respecting patient privacy and respecting national data sovereignty;

Conscious of the need to integrate teleradiology into national and regional health and digital strategies as a core component of strengthening health systems and accelerating progress towards achieving universal health coverage and health equity,