European Commission report examines AI’s role in future healthcare delivery
The European Commission has published a study on 8 August 2025 analysing the deployment of artificial intelligence in healthcare across the EU. The report reviews AI’s potential to improve service efficiency, diagnostic accuracy, and patient care, while identifying persistent barriers such as data standardisation gaps, regulatory complexity, funding constraints, and varying levels of digital literacy. It outlines practical measures to support safe, ethical, and effective AI integration, including common data governance standards, dedicated centres of excellence, and coordinated funding mechanisms.
Published on 8 August 2025, the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Food Safety released a comprehensive study examining the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. Conducted between January 2024 and May 2025 by PwC EU Services EEIG and Open Evidence, the research set out to identify the current and future needs AI could address, assess sector-specific challenges and opportunities, and propose actions for the sustainable integration of AI into healthcare systems.
The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining an extensive literature review with stakeholder consultations, including surveys, interviews, workshops, and case studies. Over 350 academic and grey literature sources were reviewed, and targeted engagement was conducted with patients, healthcare professionals, hospital representatives, AI developers, and regulatory experts from across the EU and internationally. This allowed the study to capture a broad range of perspectives on both practical and regulatory issues influencing AI adoption.
Findings highlighted that AI has significant potential to address pressing healthcare challenges, such as growing service demand, administrative burdens, delays in diagnosis and treatment, and unequal access to care. Practical examples were identified where AI improved workflow efficiency, enhanced diagnostic accuracy, supported personalised treatment, and streamlined administrative processes. However, deployment remains slow due to technological, data, legal, organisational, and cultural barriers. Issues include data standardisation, IT infrastructure gaps, unclear liability, funding limitations, trust concerns, and variations in digital literacy.
The study underscored the EU’s unique position to support AI deployment in a way that is safe, effective, ethical, and equitable, through harmonised regulations, targeted funding, and coordinated innovation strategies. It recommended actions such as establishing data governance standards, creating centres of excellence, consolidating financing mechanisms, and developing monitoring frameworks to track progress. While recognising limitations in data availability and the evolving regulatory environment, the report concluded that a structured, multi-stakeholder approach is essential to realise AI’s potential in improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
