EU report finds promise and hurdles in using AI for healthcare
A recent study commissioned by the European Commission highlights the potential of artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, diagnosis, and treatment in healthcare systems across Europe. While AI tools are available and show promising results, their integration into clinical practice remains limited due to regulatory complexity, organisational barriers, and issues of trust and data governance.
Artificial intelligence could ease some of Europe’s biggest healthcare problems, but a new study for the European Commission warns that progress is moving slowly and unevenly.
The report, published by the Commission’s health department (DG SANTE), looked at how AI tools are being developed and used in hospitals across Europe and beyond. Researchers spoke to doctors, patients, hospitals, AI developers, and regulators, and reviewed more than 350 studies.
Their conclusion: AI has the potential to cut paperwork, speed up diagnoses, and even improve cancer care. Yet despite the availability of many tools, adoption in real-world clinical settings remains limited.
A system under pressure
Europe’s health services face mounting strain. Populations are ageing, chronic diseases are more common, and hospitals are short of staff. The World Health Organisation estimates the EU could be missing over four million health workers by 2030. These gaps add to rising costs and persistent inequalities in access to care.
The study argues that AI could relieve some of these pressures. For instance, algorithms are already being tested to help radiologists read scans faster, to predict which patients are most at risk of complications, and to support hospital staff with scheduling and record-keeping. In the UK, one pilot tool cut missed appointments by nearly a third, while in Spain, an AI triage system has helped reduce emergency room waiting times.
Why progress is slow
Even so, many hospitals remain cautious. The study identifies four main barriers:
- Technology and data systems are still fragmented and often incompatible.
- A complex web of EU regulations on medical devices, privacy, and liability.
- Organisational hurdles, including limited budgets and a lack of clear strategies.
- Social concerns, with doctors and patients uncertain about relying on AI and worried about its impact on jobs and trust in care.
Next steps for Europe
The report suggests that the EU can play a key role in overcoming these obstacles. Among the proposals are common standards for data, centres of excellence for AI in healthcare, new funding mechanisms, and a catalogue of approved AI tools. A monitoring system could also track how widely AI is being deployed and whether it delivers real benefits.
Balancing innovation and rights
Overall, the authors strike a cautious but hopeful note. They say the EU is in a strong position to encourage safe and ethical innovation, but warn that without coordinated action, the benefits of AI may remain patchy.
‘The challenge is to support innovation while protecting patients’ rights,’ the report concludes, calling for long-term investment and collaboration across Europe’s health systems.
