Artificial Intelligence, which, according to the World Health Organization, is already used in the field of Health in all Member States of the European Union, including Cyprus, has begun to leave its imprint on European health systems.
High resolution of imaging tests that leads to early detection of cancerous tumours, helps in calculating risk for cardiovascular diseases and data analysis that help predict a hospital's needs in terms of staff and beds, are practices that are now widely followed in the EU while, as the WHO points out in its recent report, in more than half of the EU member states, "digital assistants" and chatbots are already being used to inform citizens and guide them to health services.
In general, the report records, for the first time at the European level, the artificial intelligence tools that are already being used, examines the readiness of EU member states to implement them and analyzes the challenges related to their safe integration into everyday medical practice.
In addition to the general finding that AI is already being used by all European health systems, the report points out that the development of AI is not progressing at the same pace in all countries.
Northern European health systems are experiencing a higher level of digital maturity and more implementation of relevant tools, while many countries in southern and eastern Europe are still in transition. These differences, as noted in the report, are mainly related to the quality of health data infrastructures, staff training and the existence of national strategies for the use of artificial intelligence.
Particular emphasis is also placed on the need to strengthen security and control mechanisms. As the World Health Organization points out, "technology is evolving faster than the institutional frameworks required for its safe use. For this reason, Member States are invited to invest in the training of health professionals, the creation of reliable data infrastructures and the enhancement of transparency towards patients on how algorithms are used in medical decisions."
Overall, the report concludes that AI "can be a key tool for early diagnosis of diseases, improving prevention and making health systems work more efficiently, provided that it is accompanied by clear governance rules and strong public trust".
The facts about Cyprus
The report is based on pan-European research conducted between 2024 and 2025 and examines states' preparedness in areas such as the existence of a national strategy for artificial intelligence, health data governance, the training of health professionals and the integration of algorithms into clinical practice.
In this context, Cyprus is among the countries that are developing the necessary digital infrastructure and policy strategies, but have not yet passed the stage of extensive implementation at the level of the health system.
This does not mean, of course, that digital systems that operate on the basis of artificial intelligence have not already been integrated into the health sector, public and private, thus facilitating the faster management of patients and diseases.
At the same time, in Cyprus, the integration of digital technologies in Health is mainly promoted through the National eHealth Authority (NHS), which has the mission of developing a national eHealth framework, including the implementation of the Electronic Health Record, telemedicine and the secure management of biomedical data.
Cyprus participates in the European MyHealth@EU infrastructure, through which cross-border exchange of health data is allowed, while the EHRC also acts as a national contact point for eHealth services and coordinates the exchange of medical information, a crucial element for the development of reliable data infrastructures that are a prerequisite for AI applications in the health sector.
