Plenary 1: Navigating the Artificial Intelligence (AI) wave: overcoming barriers and unleashing the potential of AI in transforming European public health 

Wednesday 13 November, 14:00 – 15:00 Lisbon time (UTC)

Organised by WHO Regional Office for Europe, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

 

Background

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just a future promise but an urgent necessity for modern public health. By providing invaluable insights into disease patterns, therapeutic interventions, and overall public health management, AI has the potential to revolutionise healthcare. To tackle essential public health functions effectively, harnessing AI must become a top priority. 

However, there is an urgent need for a cohesive strategy across Europe. Currently, varying readiness levels among European nations regarding AI adoption in health result in uneven progress across the continent. This disparity must be addressed to ensure all countries benefit equally from AI advancements. 

Recognising this, WHO Regional Office for Europe launched a regional report on digital health in 2023. The report evaluated the integration of big data and advanced analytics, including AI, in health systems. Findings revealed that while 60% of Member States have a national data strategy, only 35% have a policy regulating big data and AI in health, and 38% lack both. This highlights a critical gap that must be filled urgently. 

Our upcoming session will address these challenges head-on. Organised to provide visionary insights, practical applications, and a landscape view of artificial intelligence in public health, the presentations will be followed by a roundtable discussion in which panellists will delve into practical challenges surrounding AI adoption. They will reflect on the profound impact AI could have on the future of European health systems and offer pragmatic and responsible steps forward, culminating in achievable recommendations for public health professionals. 

To enhance the session, we will utilise existing Generative AI tools to provide a real-time summary of the plenary and reinforce the call to action in alignment with panellists’ recommendations. This approach ensures that the session discusses the urgent need for AI in public health and actively demonstrates its practical applications. 

Moderators:

  • Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, Director, Division of Country Health Policies and Systems, WHO Regional Office for Europe
  • Dimitra Panteli, Programme Manager/Senior Health Systems Analyst, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

Facilitator:

Speakers/Panellists:

  • Martin McKee, Professor of European Public Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
  • Katharina Ladewig, Director, Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Research, Robert Koch Institute, Germany
  • Lorena Boix, Deputy Director-General, Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), European Commission
  • Keyrellous Adib, Technical Officer Data Science and Digital Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe
  • Francisco Goiana da Silva , Nova Medical School, University Nova of Lisbon, Portugal