The EU eHealth Stakeholder Group (eHSG), coordinated by DG Sante and DG for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT), aims to provide advice and expertise to the European Commission, on topics linked to digital health, as the European Health Data Space (EHDS), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. The members of this group are all umbrella organisations/associations representing health tech industry, patients, healthcare professionals and the research community.
As a member, the EFN participated in the 8th eHSG plenary meeting aimed at discussing on the advancements of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare in Europe, with DG Sante & DG CNECT and several EU stakeholders providing an overview on the ongoing developments at EU level, including EU projects.
“We are much aware of the challenges when it comes to the adoption of these technologies (EHDS & AI) in the context of modernisation of health systems. It is therefore crucial to listen to the EU stakeholders’ concerns and suggestions to make it to the next steps”, Marco Marsella (DG SANTE)
“EU stakeholders’ views and support are key on how to move forward in the best way to bring digital health solutions into the clinics, and in doing it the European way”, Saila Rinne (DG CNECT)
Importantly, EFN provided significant input to the EHDS policy process which is currently being negotiated at speed by the EU institutions to get it ‘over the line’ before the end of this political term. The potential benefits offered by a well-functioning EHDS would be significant. The EHDS is intended to make the functioning of European health systems more efficient, contribute to better health outcomes, and support public health and health research and innovation activities in the EU. A robust EU health data governance framework is essential for ensuring privacy and security to build and maintain public trust in the EHDS.
As discussed today, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential driving innovation in health across the care pathway, as bringing solutions to support healthy living/lifestyles, in prevention, early detection and diagnosis, in treatment and nursing care, increase efficiency in healthcare systems. The European Commission, that is aiming to expend its evidence basis on AI in healthcare through a variety of study projects, just launched (January 2024) a Communication on boosting startups and innovation in trustworthy AI, that sets out a strategic investment framework in trustworthy AI for the Union to capitalise on its assets, and to foster an innovative European AI ecosystem, and which highlights the importance of healthcare.
Furthermore, COREPER (27 Member States) approved on 2 February the Artificial Intelligence Act text. The European Parliament will vote on 11 April on the text. If approved, it should enter into force in the coming months.
From a nursing profession perspective, digitalisation and AI could have a great potential for supporting nurses in their daily job, as e.g. benefiting from unlimited access to health information and records, and thus easily analyse complex data. Well-designed and implemented AI have the power to assist frontline nurses and decrease their workload in more “automatable” areas (e.g. administrative tasks), which, in turn, gives them more time for direct patient care. As expressed in the EFN Position Statement on Nurses Co-Designing Artificial Intelligence Tools, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly affecting the functioning of our healthcare systems, as well as our citizens’ expectations of these systems. The use of AI technologies to deliver care more cost-effectively represents an opportunity to relieve the currently strained healthcare systems – particularly in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.