WHO Calls for Experts in Artificial Intelligence for Health: Apply to Join the Technical Advisory Group on AI for Health (TAG-AI) in 2026

The World Health Organization (WHO) is inviting qualified experts in artificial intelligence, digital health, healthcare policy, machine learning, health regulation, bioethics, and related fields to express interest in joining its Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (TAG-AI). The initiative seeks multidisciplinary expertise to help guide the responsible, equitable, and effective use of artificial intelligence in healthcare systems across the WHO Western Pacific Region. Interested professionals must submit their expressions of interest by 20 October 2026 at 11:59 PM Manila time (GMT+8).

This opportunity is particularly relevant to experienced professionals who want to contribute to international health policy, strengthen AI governance, improve healthcare delivery, and help countries adopt artificial intelligence safely and responsibly.

1. Overview of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health

The World Health Organization has announced a call for experts to serve as members of the Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health, commonly referred to as TAG-AI.

The advisory group will provide independent, multidisciplinary technical and policy advice to the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. Its primary purpose is to help translate global guidance on artificial intelligence in health into practical approaches that countries can implement according to their individual healthcare needs, institutional capacities, and available resources.

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly important in healthcare, countries are exploring ways to use these technologies to improve medical services, support health professionals, strengthen public health surveillance, enhance diagnostics, and improve health system management. However, adopting AI in healthcare requires careful consideration of safety, ethics, regulation, data governance, cost-effectiveness, and equitable access.

Through TAG-AI, WHO seeks to bring together specialists with complementary knowledge and experience to advise on these challenges and opportunities.

Approximately 12 individuals may be selected to join the advisory group. WHO welcomes expressions of interest from experts in a range of disciplines, ideally with experience in the Western Pacific Region, although such regional experience is not mandatory.

The call was issued on 30 September 2026 and provides an opportunity for qualified professionals to contribute their expertise to an international public health initiative.

Opportunity details at a glance

• Opportunity title: Call for Experts — Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (TAG-AI).
• Organisation: World Health Organization (WHO).
• Regional office: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific.
• Advisory group: Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health.
• Opportunity type: Expert advisory group membership.
• Number of members: Approximately 12 individuals may be selected.
• Target applicants: Professionals with relevant expertise in AI, digital health, healthcare, regulation, governance, ethics, and related fields.
• Announcement date: 30 September 2026.
• Application deadline: 20 October 2026, at 11:59 PM Manila time (GMT+8).
• Submission email: wprodsi@who.int.
• Required email subject: Expression of interest for TAG-AI.
• Working language: English.
• Official source: WHO Western Pacific website.

2. Background: Why WHO Is Establishing the TAG-AI Advisory Group

Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important component of healthcare innovation. From supporting clinical decision-making to analyzing public health data, AI technologies offer opportunities to improve the delivery, efficiency, and accessibility of health services.

Nevertheless, the successful adoption of AI in healthcare depends on more than technological development. Countries need appropriate governance systems, regulatory frameworks, reliable data infrastructure, trained professionals, and methods for evaluating whether AI tools are safe and effective in real-world conditions.

The WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific recognizes the importance of addressing these challenges as countries explore and adopt AI technologies.

The establishment of TAG-AI is linked to WHO’s regional programme of work, Weaving health for families, communities and societies in the Western Pacific Region (2025–2029). Within this programme, the Division of Data, Strategy and Innovation promotes the equitable and responsible use of artificial intelligence to improve population health and build health systems that are prepared for future challenges.

Across the Western Pacific Region, countries are adopting or considering AI applications in several areas, including:

• Healthcare service delivery.
• Public health planning and implementation.
• Health workforce support.
• Disease surveillance and monitoring.
• Medical diagnostics.
• Health system management.
• Digital health innovation.

However, countries have different levels of regulatory capacity, digital infrastructure, data readiness, procurement systems, and technical expertise. These differences influence their ability to adopt AI technologies safely and effectively.

Without appropriate governance and implementation support, AI may deepen existing health inequalities, create new safety risks, or divert limited resources away from more urgent healthcare priorities.

TAG-AI is intended to help WHO address these challenges by providing independent expert advice on how international guidance can be adapted to different national contexts.

3. The Three Regional Priorities for Artificial Intelligence in Health

In October 2025, during the seventy-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, Member States adopted three priorities for advancing AI in health.

These priorities provide important context for understanding the advisory group’s proposed work.

Priority 1: Prioritization of high-impact AI applications

The first priority is to identify and priorities AI applications that can make a meaningful contribution to health equity and address major healthcare system challenges.

Not every AI application will deliver the same benefits in every country. Governments and healthcare institutions must therefore determine which technologies are most relevant to their populations and health system needs.

For example, AI applications may be considered in primary healthcare, services for ageing populations, and public health. The challenge is to identify solutions that address genuine needs rather than adopting technologies simply because they are new or commercially available.

TAG-AI will provide technical and policy advice on prioritizing AI use cases that are relevant to the Western Pacific Region.

Priority 2: Strengthening the AI ecosystem

The second priority focuses on creating the governance arrangements and enabling conditions needed for responsible AI implementation.

Healthcare AI systems can raise questions concerning patient safety, data privacy, accountability, regulation, procurement, and ongoing monitoring.

Countries need appropriate frameworks to assess risks, determine whether technologies are suitable for use, and establish how they should be monitored after deployment.

TAG-AI will advise on governance, regulatory pathways, data governance, procurement, and accountability arrangements that can support safe and appropriate implementation.

Priority 3: Building institutional and public-sector capacity

The third priority concerns strengthening the ability of governments and public institutions to govern, adopt, and use AI responsibly.

Effective AI implementation requires more than access to software or digital infrastructure. Institutions also need trained personnel, appropriate policies, technical knowledge, and the capacity to evaluate the performance of AI systems.

The advisory group will help WHO consider approaches to workforce development, institutional readiness, and system integration that support sustainable AI adoption.

Together, these three priorities provide a framework for the advisory group’s work: identify the most valuable applications, strengthen the systems that govern them, and build the capacity needed to implement them responsibly.

4. Main Responsibilities of the Technical Advisory Group on AI for Health

TAG-AI will serve as an advisory body to the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. Its members will provide independent, multidisciplinary advice across several areas of AI in healthcare.

The group’s work will help WHO translate global normative guidance into practical, context-appropriate support for Member States.

4.1. Prioritizing AI use cases and assessing health impact

Members will provide technical and policy advice on identifying and prioritizing AI applications in areas that matter to the region.

These may include ageing, primary healthcare, and public health.

The objective is to support decisions about where AI can offer meaningful benefits and how its potential impact should be assessed.

Experts may need to consider whether a proposed AI application addresses a significant healthcare problem, whether it is appropriate for the intended population, and whether its implementation is likely to produce meaningful improvements.

4.2. Governance, regulation, and accountability

The group will advise on the development and strengthening of governance and regulatory approaches suitable for AI in healthcare.

This includes risk-based governance, regulatory pathways, regulatory reliance, data governance, procurement, and post-market monitoring.

These areas are important because AI technologies can affect decisions involving patients, healthcare workers, and public health systems. Appropriate governance helps institutions determine how technologies should be assessed, approved, implemented, and monitored.

The group’s advice will support WHO in considering how countries can establish effective oversight while responding to their individual institutional and regulatory circumstances.

4.3. Validation, evaluation, and evidence generation

TAG-AI will provide advice on methods for validating and evaluating AI solutions.

An AI system that performs well in one setting may not deliver the same results in another. Differences in populations, data quality, healthcare infrastructure, and clinical practice can affect its performance.

The group will therefore advise on approaches to evaluating:

• Real-world performance.
• Safety.
• Equity.
• Implementation.
• Cost-effectiveness.

This work is important for ensuring that AI adoption is informed by evidence rather than assumptions about the capabilities of a technology.

4.4. Capacity development and institutional readiness

The advisory group will also advise on workforce competency development, institutional readiness, and system integration.

Healthcare institutions need personnel who understand how AI systems operate, how their limitations should be managed, and how their outputs should be interpreted in professional practice.

Institutions must also determine whether their infrastructure, policies, workflows, and governance arrangements are suitable for the technologies they intend to introduce.

TAG-AI will help WHO consider approaches that support these requirements.

4.5. Supporting implementation in resource-constrained settings

Across these areas, the group will advise WHO on the adaptation and use of regional public goods, as well as approaches for country implementation and scaling up AI solutions.

This includes consideration of resource-constrained settings, where limited budgets, infrastructure, technical expertise, and data systems may affect the feasibility of particular technologies.

The aim is to support approaches that are practical and appropriate to different national circumstances rather than assuming that every country can implement AI in the same way.

5. Who Can Apply? Expert Profiles Sought by WHO

WHO welcomes expressions of interest from individuals with technical knowledge, professional skills, and experience relevant to the design, development, deployment, evaluation, governance, or impact of AI in health.

The advisory group will be multidisciplinary. Applicants do not need to come from a single professional background, and the announcement identifies several areas of expertise that may be relevant.

Experience within the Western Pacific Region is desirable but not mandatory.

The following profiles are specifically identified in the call.

5.1. Digital health and AI implementation in low- and middle-income countries

Experts in digital health and AI implementation can contribute knowledge of how technologies are introduced and used in healthcare systems with different levels of infrastructure and resources.

Relevant experience may include digital health programmes, implementation planning, health information systems, and the practical challenges of deploying AI in low- and middle-income countries.

5.2. AI and machine learning engineering, assurance, validation, and safety

This category is relevant to specialists who understand the technical development and assessment of AI systems.

Expertise may cover machine learning engineering, model validation, AI assurance, safety evaluation, and the technical processes used to assess whether an AI system performs reliably for its intended purpose.

Such knowledge can help inform discussions about technical quality, performance, limitations, and risk management.

5.3. Human-centred design and evaluation

Human-centred design specialists can contribute an understanding of how AI systems interact with the people who use them.

In healthcare, technologies must be appropriate for patients, clinicians, administrators, and other stakeholders. Design and evaluation approaches should consider user needs, accessibility, practical workflows, and the consequences of introducing new tools into existing services.

5.4. Health technology assessment, health economics, and financing

Experts in health technology assessment, health economics, and financing can help evaluate the broader value and affordability of AI applications.

Healthcare institutions must consider not only whether a technology works but also whether it offers sufficient value, can be funded sustainably, and represents an appropriate use of limited resources.

These perspectives are particularly relevant when governments must choose between competing health priorities.

5.5. Regulatory science

Regulatory science expertise can help inform the development and evaluation of approaches for overseeing AI technologies used in healthcare.

Professionals in this field may understand how evidence, risk assessment, standards, and regulatory procedures can support appropriate decisions about health technologies.

5.6. Health law and data governance

Experts in health law and data governance can contribute knowledge of the legal and institutional issues associated with healthcare data and AI.

These may include data management, privacy, accountability, information governance, and the legal frameworks that influence the development and use of health technologies.

5.7. Bioethics

Bioethics specialists can help examine the ethical implications of AI in healthcare.

Relevant considerations include fairness, equity, patient interests, accountability, responsible use of data, and the potential consequences of automated or AI-assisted decisions.

Their perspectives can help ensure that technological innovation remains aligned with ethical principles and public health objectives.

5.8. Clinical practice and primary healthcare

Clinicians and primary healthcare professionals can provide practical insight into how AI tools might affect patient care and healthcare delivery.

Their experience can help identify genuine clinical needs, evaluate whether proposed tools fit existing workflows, and assess the practical implications of introducing AI into healthcare settings.

5.9. Health policy and systems

Experts in health policy and systems can contribute knowledge of how healthcare institutions are organized, financed, governed, and managed.

Their expertise is relevant to understanding the institutional conditions required for responsible AI adoption and the relationship between technological interventions and broader health system priorities.

5.10. Community and patient engagement

Professionals with experience in community and patient engagement can contribute perspectives on how AI technologies affect the people and communities they are intended to serve.

Public trust, accessibility, user experience, and meaningful engagement are important considerations when introducing technologies that may influence healthcare decisions.

By bringing these disciplines together, WHO aims to establish an advisory group capable of examining AI in health from technical, clinical, regulatory, economic, institutional, ethical, and community perspectives.

6. How Many Experts Will Be Selected?

According to the call, approximately 12 individuals may be selected to serve on TAG-AI.

The announcement does not establish that every listed field will necessarily have a separate representative. Instead, WHO is seeking a multidisciplinary group whose collective expertise can support its advisory responsibilities.

The selection process will consider applicants’ professional qualifications and experience, alongside other criteria such as communication skills, international and country-level policy experience, and the ability to work constructively with people from different cultural backgrounds and orientations.

WHO will also take account of the need for diverse perspectives from different regions, particularly low- and middle-income countries, as well as gender balance.

Applicants should therefore explain clearly how their background and expertise can contribute to the advisory group’s work rather than relying only on a list of qualifications.

7. How to Apply for the WHO TAG-AI Expert Opportunity

Interested professionals must submit an expression of interest by email. The call specifies three required documents and provides an exact email subject line.

Applicants should prepare all documents carefully and ensure that the submission reaches WHO before the deadline.

Step 1: Prepare a cover letter

The cover letter should explain the applicant’s motivation for applying and demonstrate how their background satisfies the selection criteria.

Applicants should connect their expertise to the responsibilities of TAG-AI. For example, an applicant with experience in AI validation could explain how that experience relates to assessing the safety and performance of healthcare AI systems.

Similarly, a specialist in health policy could describe how their experience could support governance, institutional readiness, or responsible AI implementation.

The letter should be tailored to the advisory group’s purpose rather than written as a generic employment application.

Important: WHO states that membership, if offered, will be held in a personal capacity. Applicants must therefore not use their employer’s letterhead or other employer identification in the cover letter.

Step 2: Prepare an updated curriculum vitae

Applicants must submit their curriculum vitae (CV).

The CV should clearly present the professional experience, qualifications, technical knowledge, research, policy work, and other relevant achievements that demonstrate suitability for the advisory group.

Given the multidisciplinary nature of TAG-AI, applicants should make their relevant expertise easy to identify.

The CV should accurately represent the applicant’s background and highlight experience that relates to AI in healthcare, digital health, regulation, governance, evaluation, ethics, health systems, or another relevant field.

Step 3: Complete and sign the WHO Declaration of Interests form

Applicants must submit a signed and completed Declaration of Interests (DOI) form for WHO Experts.

This requirement is important because WHO advisory group members must be free of real, potential, or apparent conflicts of interest, or have any identified conflicts assessed and determined by WHO to be appropriately manageable.

The declaration enables WHO to evaluate potential conflicts as part of the selection process.

Applicants should complete the form accurately and follow the instructions provided with the official document.

Step 4: Email the application to WHO

Once the three documents are ready, applicants should send them to the official email address specified in the call.

• Email address: wprodsi@who.int
• Required subject line: Expression of interest for TAG-AI
• Deadline: 20 October 2026 at 11:59 PM Manila time (GMT+8).

Applicants should ensure that all required documents are attached and that the email subject line matches the instructions.

Step 5: Keep a copy of the submission

Applicants should retain a copy of their submitted email and documents for their records.

The announcement notes that WHO expects to receive a high volume of expressions of interest. Only selected individuals will be informed, so applicants should not assume that the absence of a response means their submission was not received or assessed.

Application checklist

Before sending the expression of interest, confirm that you have:

• Prepared a cover letter explaining your motivation and suitability.
• Avoided using your employer’s letterhead or employer identification in the cover letter.
• Prepared your curriculum vitae.
• Completed and signed the WHO Declaration of Interests form.
• Attached all three required documents.
• Used the email address wprodsi@who.int.
• Entered the subject line Expression of interest for TAG-AI.
• Submitted before 20 October 2026 at 11:59 PM Manila time.

8. Selection Criteria: How WHO Will Assess Applicants

WHO will select members at its sole discretion, considering several non-exclusive criteria.

The selection process will consider both individual qualifications and the collective composition of the advisory group.

Relevant technical expertise

Applicants should demonstrate knowledge and experience that relate to the advisory group’s responsibilities.

This may involve AI engineering, healthcare delivery, digital health, regulation, evaluation, ethics, health economics, governance, or another relevant field.

Experience in international and country policy work

WHO will consider experience in international and country-level policy work.

Applicants should describe relevant contributions to policy development, implementation, technical cooperation, health system improvement, or related initiatives where applicable.

Communication skills

Advisory work requires the ability to explain complex issues clearly and contribute constructively to technical and policy discussions.

Applicants should demonstrate that they can communicate their expertise effectively and engage with multidisciplinary colleagues.

Ability to work across cultural backgrounds

WHO will consider the ability to work constructively with people from different cultural backgrounds and orientations.

This is relevant to an advisory group intended to support countries with different institutional arrangements, resources, health priorities, and experiences.

Diversity of perspectives and gender balance

The selection process will also take account of the need for perspectives from different regions, especially low- and middle-income countries, and the need for gender balance.

This reflects the importance of considering different country experiences and institutional contexts when advising on AI implementation.

Applicants should explain their qualifications clearly and provide accurate evidence of their relevant experience. However, meeting the stated criteria does not guarantee selection.

9. Important Conditions of Appointment

Applicants should understand that joining a WHO technical advisory group involves responsibilities and conditions beyond submitting an expression of interest.

Membership is in an individual expert capacity

Selected members will serve in their personal expert capacity.

They will not represent governments, commercial industries or entities, research organizations, academic institutions, civil society organizations, or other bodies and institutions.

This distinction is important because the advisory group is expected to provide independent advice rather than serve as a forum for institutional representation.

Conflict-of-interest requirements

Members must be free of real, potential, or apparent conflicts of interest, or have identified conflicts determined by WHO to be appropriately manageable.

The completion of the WHO Declaration of Interests form is therefore a mandatory part of the application process.

WHO’s assessment of conflicts of interest will form part of the broader selection decision.

Code of Conduct and confidentiality

Members are expected to comply fully with the Code of Conduct for WHO Experts.

They must also sign and return a completed confidentiality undertaking before the first meeting.

These requirements support the appropriate handling of information and the professional conduct expected of members participating in WHO advisory activities.

Possible telephone interviews

WHO may schedule telephone interviews between applicants and the WHO Secretariat at any stage of the selection process.

These interviews may be used to ask questions about an applicant’s experience and expertise or to assess whether they meet the relevant membership criteria.

Applicants should therefore ensure that the information in their cover letters and CVs is accurate and that they can explain their professional contributions clearly.

Appointment documentation

If WHO selects an applicant, the proposed member will receive an invitation letter and a Memorandum of Agreement.

Appointment will be subject to the proposed member returning countersigned copies of both documents to WHO.

Selection should therefore not be treated as a completed appointment until the required documentation has been returned in accordance with WHO’s instructions.

Appointment duration

The appointment will be limited in time, as specified in the appointment letter.

The call does not provide a universal appointment duration for all selected members.

10. Meetings, Working Language, and Practical Arrangements

TAG-AI will normally meet at least once each year. WHO may convene additional meetings when needed.

Meetings may be conducted in person or virtually, depending on the arrangements determined by WHO.

In-person meetings may take place at the WHO Regional Office in Manila, Philippines, or at another location.

Meetings may be held in open or closed session, as decided by the Chairperson in consultation with WHO.

The group’s working language will be English.

Applicants should consider these arrangements when evaluating whether they can participate effectively in the advisory group’s activities.

The call does not specify a fixed calendar of meeting dates, a guaranteed number of additional meetings, or a particular schedule for virtual sessions. Those arrangements may be communicated by WHO as the group is established and its work progresses.

11. Is the WHO TAG-AI Position Paid?

The WHO announcement explicitly states that members of the advisory group will not be remunerated for their services in relation to the group or otherwise.

This means that applicants should not expect a salary, honorarium, or other payment for serving as a member of TAG-AI under the terms described in the call.

However, WHO will cover travel and accommodation expenses for members who need to participate in advisory group meetings, in accordance with its applicable policies, rules, and procedures.

Applicants should distinguish between these two arrangements:

• Remuneration: Members will not be paid for their advisory group services.
• Meeting-related travel and accommodation: These expenses will be covered by WHO under its applicable policies and procedures.

The opportunity should therefore be understood primarily as an expert advisory appointment rather than a salaried job or paid consultancy.

12. How This Opportunity Can Benefit Participating Experts

Although TAG-AI membership is unpaid, the appointment offers an opportunity for qualified professionals to contribute expertise to an international public health initiative.

The benefits should be understood in terms of professional contribution, policy engagement, and the opportunity to support responsible AI adoption, rather than guaranteed financial rewards.

Contributing to international health policy

Selected experts will have an opportunity to provide independent technical and policy advice to WHO’s Western Pacific Regional Office.

Their contributions can help inform approaches to AI governance, implementation, evaluation, and capacity development.

Supporting responsible AI adoption

Members will contribute to discussions about how AI technologies can be evaluated, governed, and used responsibly in healthcare.

This work is relevant to ongoing efforts to ensure that AI systems are appropriate for their intended purposes and responsive to health system needs.

Applying specialized professional expertise

The multidisciplinary structure of the group allows experts from different backgrounds to contribute their knowledge to a shared public health objective.

For example, specialists in regulation, clinical practice, AI engineering, ethics, health economics, and community engagement can each provide perspectives that complement those of other members.

Engaging with diverse perspectives

The advisory group will consider experiences from different countries and professional backgrounds.

This can create opportunities for members to contribute to discussions that take account of different healthcare systems, institutional capacities, and implementation challenges.

Contributing to equity and health system improvement

A central purpose of the advisory group’s work is to help WHO support equitable and responsible AI use.

Experts can contribute to identifying applications that address meaningful health needs, strengthening governance arrangements, and supporting implementation in resource-constrained settings.

These are potential professional and public health contributions, not guarantees of promotion, future employment, formal certification, or other personal benefits.

13. Important Deadline and Submission Time Zone

The deadline for expressions of interest is 20 October 2026 at 11:59 PM Manila time (GMT+8).

Applicants must pay attention to the time zone because the deadline is stated according to Manila time rather than the time zone in their own country.

For applicants based in Zimbabwe, which uses Central Africa Time (CAT, UTC+2), the equivalent deadline is 20 October 2026 at 5:59 PM Zimbabwe time.

Applicants should aim to submit before this time to allow for possible email delays, attachment problems, or last-minute corrections.

WHO also advises individuals with questions about the call to contact wprodsi@who.int well before the application deadline.

14. Official Application Link and Contact Information

The WHO call for experts is published on the WHO Western Pacific website.

Official opportunity page: WHO — Call for Experts: Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (TAG-AI)

Application email: wprodsi@who.int

Required email subject: Expression of interest for TAG-AI

Organization: World Health Organization

Responsible division: Division of Data, Strategy and Innovation, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific

Regional office location: Manila, Philippines

Deadline: 20 October 2026 at 11:59 PM Manila time (GMT+8).

Applicants should consult the official opportunity page for the complete announcement and any associated forms or supporting information. The official call should be treated as the authoritative source for application requirements and appointment conditions.

Conclusion

The World Health Organization’s call for experts to join the Technical Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health offers qualified professionals an opportunity to contribute to the responsible and equitable use of AI in healthcare.

By bringing together expertise in digital health, machine learning, AI safety, clinical practice, health policy, regulation, economics, bioethics, and community engagement, WHO aims to strengthen the evidence, governance, and institutional capacity needed for effective AI implementation across the Western Pacific Region.

Approximately 12 individuals may be selected to provide independent technical and policy advice. Applicants should demonstrate relevant expertise, explain their motivation clearly, and show how their experience relates to the advisory group’s responsibilities.

Interested professionals must submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and signed WHO Declaration of Interests form by email, using the subject line “Expression of interest for TAG-AI.” They should also understand that membership is unpaid, requires compliance with WHO’s expert conduct and confidentiality requirements, and is subject to the organization’s selection process and appointment conditions.

The application deadline is 20 October 2026 at 11:59 PM Manila time (GMT+8).

Qualified professionals interested in shaping the future of responsible artificial intelligence in healthcare are encouraged to review the official WHO announcement, prepare the required documents, and submit their expressions of interest before the deadline.

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