Healthcare Weekly AI News

July 14 - July 26, 2025

Global health groups are creating rules for AI in medicine. At a United Nations summit in Switzerland, the World Health Organization (WHO) talked about using AI in traditional medicine. They released a report showing how AI could help ancient healing practices. WHO leaders said countries need to check if AI tools are safe and work well locally. WHO also opened a new center to watch over ethical AI development in healthcare.

Investors are putting lots of money into health AI companies. In the first half of 2025, AI startups got most digital health funding - $4 billion out of $6.4 billion total. Abridge raised $550 million for its tool that records and types up doctor-patient talks. Truveta got $320 million to build a huge health database. The market for AI in life sciences is growing very fast, expected to jump from $2.25 billion in 2024 to $14.20 billion by 2034. This growth comes from AI speeding up drug discovery and making patient care better.

New AI tools are becoming more like smart assistants. Researchers made AI systems that can handle open-ended medical cases, not just simple tests. These systems ask questions, order tests, and explain their thinking during diagnoses. In the United Kingdom, doctors use an AI test for prostate cancer patients. It predicts who will benefit from abiraterone medicine with 85% accuracy, avoiding useless treatments. In India, drug companies use AI to find new medicines faster.

Countries are using AI to fight diseases. Rwanda put an AI tool on health workers' phones at borders with Uganda and Congo. It checks skin images for signs of Mpox, helping catch outbreaks early. This system shows how AI can help in places with few doctors.

Hospitals are getting new AI helpers. ShiftMed launched Workforce AI Suite to manage staff schedules. Wellsheet's Care Team Copilot writes medical notes by reading patient charts in real time. Abridge uses AI to record doctor-patient conversations. Truveta is building a giant health database for research.

In the United States, leaders are making rules for healthcare AI. Different government groups have different ideas about how to manage it. Recent memos stress the need for clear rules and new ideas. Since there's no national law yet, some states are creating their own AI healthcare rules.

Experts say AI that acts independently (called agentic AI) is becoming crucial in healthcare. Thomas Filaire from Artefact company said healthcare's complex data and processes make AI essential. His company runs a European network where startups, drug companies, and researchers work together on health AI projects.

The future looks bright for health AI. WHO's new governance center will help countries use AI responsibly. Tools like Rwanda's disease-spotting AI could be used for other illnesses. As more hospitals adopt AI helpers like Care Team Copilot, doctors may save time on paperwork. With proper rules, AI could make healthcare better and fairer worldwide.

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