A new WHO Europe report on the rapidly evolving use of artificial intelligence in healthcare which encourages wider consultation with patients and the public to strengthen trust and ensure AI tools reflect the needs of those they serve.
New WHO/Europe report provides first-ever snapshot of AI in health care across European Union Member States
https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/20-04-2026-new-who-europe-report-pr...
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WHO/Europe has released a new report assessing the rapidly evolving use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care across the 27 European Union (EU) Member States. The first comprehensive review of its kind, the report reveals strong and consistent momentum across EU Member States, with all 27 countries recognizing improved patient care as a driver of AI development and the majority already deploying AI tools in clinical settings.
The report, produced as part of a multi-year funding agreement with the European Commission, builds on a recent WHO/Europe regional report, published in late 2025, by zooming in on the 27 EU Member States specifically.
Based on data collected between June 2024 and March 2025, the report points to a landscape in which health systems across the region are actively building the foundations needed to harness these technologies safely, equitably and responsibly.
Nearly three quarters of EU countries are already using AI-assisted diagnostics, including tools that support medical imaging, disease detection and clinical decision-making.
Nearly half of EU Member States have already created dedicated professional roles for AI and data science in health, and several countries have indicated plans to introduce or expand AI training programmes in the near future. The findings also point to clear priorities for continued investment as AI adoption accelerates across the region.
While 74% of EU countries report using AI in diagnostics and 63% use chatbots to support patient engagement, the region is now focused on ensuring workforce training keeps pace, with countries increasingly integrating AI literacy into both pre-service education and continuous professional development. This focus on skills and preparedness reflects a broader commitment across EU Member States to ensure that the rapid adoption of AI in clinical settings translates into better patient outcomes, with health professionals equipped to critically engage with these technologies, maintain high standards of care and uphold accountability in AI-assisted decision-making.
Building workforce skills and public engagement
As AI becomes more embedded in clinical settings, ensuring health professionals have the skills and knowledge to work alongside these technologies safely and effectively is increasingly important for maintaining high standards of patient care. At the same time, clinicians remain legally and ethically responsible for decisions supported by technologies they may not fully understand.
4 in 5 (81%) EU Member States are already actively involving stakeholders in shaping AI governance in health, exceeding the average across the broader WHO European Region. To build on this progress, the report encourages wider consultation with patients and the public to strengthen trust and ensure AI tools reflect the needs of those they serve. The report highlights that systems developed with meaningful public input are better placed to earn lasting trust, support equitable outcomes and deliver on the promise of AI for all patients across the EU.
Systems developed without meaningful public input, the report warns, may face resistance or rejection, regardless of their technical sophistication, and could exacerbate existing health inequities rather than reduce them.
The findings come at a pivotal moment, with the EU about to implement the world’s first comprehensive legal framework specifically regulating AI. WHO/Europe encourages governments to build on this foundation by prioritizing 3 key areas:
- strengthening workforce readiness through education and training on AI fundamentals, ethics and data governance;
- ensuring inclusive and transparent engagement by involving health professionals, patients and the public in AI policy development; and
establishing centres of excellence to test technologies, share best practices and develop common standards for safe and equitable implementation.
[Forwarded by] HIFA profile: Richard Fitton is a retired family doctor - GP. Professional interests: Health literacy, patient partnership of trust and implementation of healthcare with professionals, family and public involvement in the prevention of modern lifestyle diseases, patients using access to professional records to overcome confidentiality barriers to care, patients as part of the policing of the use of their patient data Email address: richardpeterfitton7 AT gmail.com