Vatican City: International experts gathering at the Vatican have called for stronger ethical safeguards and greater fairness in the way health data and biological samples are collected, stored, shared, and used in medical research.
The discussions took place during the Third Expert Meeting on the revision of the Declaration of Taipei on health data governance, held on June 1 and 2 in Vatican City. The meeting was organised by the World Medical Association, in collaboration with the Pontifical Academy for Life and the Israeli Medical Association.
The event brought together specialists from around the world in medicine, bioethics, law, public health, and healthcare governance to address some of the most pressing ethical questions emerging from the rapid growth of digital technologies and data driven healthcare.
Archbishop Renzo Pegoraro, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, said the increasing role of health data in modern medicine requires careful reflection and cooperation at the international level.
He noted that the meeting offered an important opportunity to promote a more just and equitable approach to biomedical research and healthcare, especially at a time when digital technologies are transforming the medical field.
A major focus of the discussions was fairness in the management of health data and biological samples. Participants examined concerns about the underrepresentation of vulnerable and marginalised groups in medical research and explored ways to ensure that the benefits of scientific discoveries are shared more equally.
Experts also discussed the importance of involving patients, communities, and other stakeholders in ethical decision making. They highlighted the need for governance systems that encourage justice, transparency, and global solidarity in research and healthcare.
Dr Jacqueline Kitulu, President of the World Medical Association, stressed that medical innovation must remain firmly grounded in ethics and equity.
She said that health data and biobank research have enormous potential to improve healthcare and expand scientific knowledge across the world. However, she emphasised that scientific progress must always be accompanied by ethical responsibility, meaningful inclusion, and the fair sharing of benefits so that all communities can benefit equally from advances in medicine.
The meeting forms part of an ongoing effort to update the Declaration of Taipei, a key international document that provides ethical guidance on the use of health databases and biobanks. The declaration was first adopted by the World Medical Association in 2002 and was revised in 2016.
With advances in artificial intelligence, genomics, data driven medicine, and international data sharing reshaping healthcare, experts believe the declaration must be updated to address new ethical challenges and modern realities.
The Vatican consultation was the third in a series of global meetings dedicated to the revision process. Previous consultations were held in Taipei, Taiwan, in December 2025 and in São Paulo, Brazil, in March 2026.
In their concluding statement, organisers highlighted the value of international cooperation in promoting human wellbeing. They noted that the collaboration of physicians and experts from different countries demonstrates that even in times of conflict and division, people can work together for the health and welfare of patients.
The statement expressed hope that this spirit of cooperation would not only improve healthcare and medical research but also contribute to greater understanding, solidarity, and peace among nations.