Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to significantly impact healthcare, but the EU will not introduce specific AI-related legislation for healthcare in the near future, according to Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi.
AI’s potential to transform healthcare—such as through improved diagnoses and drug discovery—is undeniable, but Várhelyi emphasized that AI integration into healthcare is already inevitable. He spoke at the launch of a new communication on hospital cybersecurity.
While the EU is exploring AI’s role in healthcare, Várhelyi ruled out a separate legislative initiative at this time. However, he made it clear that AI will play a central role in shaping EU healthcare policies over the next five years.
The Commissioner noted that AI considerations will be embedded in broader legislative frameworks, including the upcoming Biotechnology Act of 2025, which aims to streamline regulations for the life sciences sector.
AI will not only inform product development but also enhance treatment and diagnostics, with applications in personalized medicine and predictive health analytics, as seen in the upcoming EU cardiovascular health plan.
Várhelyi also pointed to the EU Health Data Space framework, which enables secure health data collection and analysis, providing a crucial foundation for AI-driven innovations in healthcare.
