Brussels – Artificial intelligence will be key to managing Europe’s demographic transition, but technology can never replace human contact. In particular, AI must be integrated into a people-centred transformation of health and care systems, because if systems focus only on clinical data, ignoring social determinants such as loneliness or limited access to community services, they will lose sight of key aspects of well-being. This is what the THCS Partnership Coordinating Team, the European partnership for the transformation of health and care systems (THCS) through research and innovation, told EuNews, during the showcase event of the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) on 19 January. The initiative, now in its second edition, took place in Brussels and illustrated how EU-funded projects support the Union’s key policy priorities in competitiveness and preparedness, bringing together leaders from industry, research, and EU institutions. In total, the day attracted 500 in-person participants, 150 online, 26 high-level speakers, and 14 project stands. “The strength of HaDEA lies in promoting synergies between EU funding programmes. By linking health, food security, digital, industry, and space, we improve Europe’s competitiveness and preparedness, producing an impact that reaches communities across Europe,” said HaDEA Director Marina Zanchi. THCS was among the participants at the HaDEA event.
Eunews: Artificial intelligence is revolutionising many sectors, and not always in a positive or comprehensible way. In healthcare and scientific research, what does using AI mean, and how far have we come with its adoption?
THCS: “From the perspective of THCS – Transforming Health and Care Systems Partnership, artificial intelligence is not an isolated technological revolution. As described in our Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), AI is considered an enabling tool within a broader transformation of health and care, aimed at strengthening the ‘intelligence’ of the entire system. In Europe, AI is already widely used in diagnostic imaging, cancer diagnosis, risk stratification, and healthcare system management. THCS plays a role in this landscape through our Transnational Joint Calls – competitive R&D calls worth around 30 million euros per year – designed to fund innovative projects that can transform health and care. In our first three calls, THCS funded over 60 projects. More than 10% of these focus on AI-based product and process innovation, with investments of several million euros. These projects are very concrete.
E: Can you describe an example of an AI application in healthcare that is particularly relevant to citizens?
THCS: “We support initiatives that use AI-based telemedicine and remote monitoring for chronic conditions (e.g., epilepsy, hypertension) to detect deterioration early and adapt treatment more quickly. In addition, initiatives that apply predictive analytics to improve transitions from hospital to home, reducing avoidable hospitalisations, and improving continuity of care; that develop digital twins and advanced models to support more personalised pathways and better clinical and organisational decisions; and that, in areas such as mental health, repurpose clinical and behavioural signals to support earlier diagnosis and more targeted interventions. For THCS, the key point is that these solutions are tested in real care settings in different countries and linked to policy learning. This is how innovation becomes scalable and transferable, and how AI can be integrated into person-centred healthcare and care pathways.
E: Are national public health systems able to keep pace, including financially, with the adoption and development of AI systems, or is this revolution mainly in the hands of the private sector? What challenge are EU countries being called to address in this context of investments, structures, and instruments?
THCS: “Artificial intelligence in healthcare cannot be left solely to market dynamics. In Europe, healthcare provision is largely a public responsibility, while much of AI development is driven by private players. The challenge is therefore not whether public systems can keep up, but whether they can shape adoption in line with public values. Implementing AI requires much more than purchasing software. It means investing in interoperable data infrastructure, cybersecurity, regulatory capacity, digital skills, and organisational change. Initiatives such as the European Health Data Space Regulation and the AI Act demonstrate that Europe is laying the foundations for the reliable and secure use of health data. However, infrastructure alone is not enough: implementation capacity at the regional and local level is equally crucial.
E: Is there an estimate of the investment required to equip Member States’ health systems with AI tools?
THCS: “There is no single figure for the necessary investment, as the level of preparedness varies considerably between Member States. However, achieving full interoperability and maturity of AI requires sustained, multi-year investment in the order of billions at the EU level. These costs must be weighed against the potential benefits: better management of chronic diseases, fewer avoidable hospital admissions, and more efficient use of scarce healthcare workers. The real risk is fragmentation. Coordinated European action, including joint research and shared learning, helps to avoid duplication, strengthens strategic autonomy, and ensures that artificial intelligence supports equity and sustainability in healthcare systems.
E: The elderly comprise a growing share of the European population. How will AI help these people, who may not be familiar with or trust digital tools, and how can they be reassured about the positive results that can be achieved?
THCS: “Artificial intelligence will be key in managing the demographic transition in Europe. It can support early diagnosis of clinical deterioration and cognitive decline, enable remote monitoring, and improve coordination between hospitals, primary care, and long-term services. When implemented well, this technology reduces avoidable hospital admissions and helps older people remain safely at home for longer. At the same time, one principle must remain clear: technology must never replace human contact. Care is fundamentally relational, and trust is built through interaction with doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals. Many older people are not fully familiar with digital tools; if technology creates distance rather than support, it can increase insecurity and isolation. Artificial intelligence should therefore reduce administrative burdens and free up professionals’ time for more meaningful human interaction, strengthening, not weakening, the human dimension of care. Acceptance will depend less on technical explanations and more on tangible benefits and adequate support. Providing devices is not enough: people need guidance and reassurance to use them with confidence. If older people experience fewer crises, better continuity of care, and more effective support at home, confidence will naturally grow.
E: Is there anything you fear about the use of AI in this field?
THCS: “What we fear is not artificial intelligence itself, but fragmented or poorly managed implementation. If systems focus only on clinical data and ignore social determinants such as loneliness or limited access to community services, they risk losing sight of key aspects of well-being. Artificial intelligence must be integrated into a people-centred transformation of health and care systems, strengthening autonomy, dignity, and solidarity.”
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
