Hangzhou, Sept. 19 (SANA)Syria’s Health Ministry participated in the third meeting of the Global Initiative on AI for Health (GI-AI4H) held by the International Telecommunication Union, the World Health Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization in Hangzhou, China, from Sept. 16-18, 2026.

Maher Kallas, Director of Digital Transformation at the ministry, took part in an international session titled “Digital Transformation and AI in Health Systems Worldwide,” where he reviewed the state of digital transformation in Syria’s health sector and the drive toward building an interconnected digital health system based on data governance, a unified health identity and health information exchange, according to a ministry statement on Telegram.

Focus on practical implementation

The meeting brought together policymakers, regulators, health practitioners, researchers, technical experts, civil society and industry representatives to discuss the responsible deployment of AI in health and to strengthen cooperation and expertise exchange.

Discussions focused on moving AI from principles and theoretical frameworks to practical, sustainable implementation in health systems, enhancing the initiative’s work, supporting cross-border cooperation, and reviewing governance and applications across different health fields.

The Global Initiative on AI for Health was launched in July 2023 by the WHO, ITU and WIPO to promote the safe and responsible use of AI in the health sector.

The third meeting follows previous gatherings in Riyadh in 2023 and Singapore in 2025, focusing on the transition from showcasing AI potential to practical, responsible and sustainable application.

The initiative brings together the complementary expertise of the three UN agencies in telecommunications and technical standards, health, and intellectual property.