Policy & Research

In this section, you will find direct links to all key reports and documents produced by EPF on the topic of Artificial Intelligence.

2020

- Big Data and Artificial Intelligence - EU Policy Briefing for Patient Organisations (2020) 

The paper aims to provide an overview of two areas of technology that are particularly in the focus of EU policy: big data, and artificial intelligence. Its purpose is to support the engagement of patient organisations in EU policy discussions around digital health, with special focus on the above-mentioned topics, in line with our commitment to bringing a meaningful and robust patient perspective into EU policy debates. 

- EPF Response to the European Commission Consultation on the AI White Paper (2020) 

The EPF Response to the European Commission Consultation on the AI White Paper, developed in consultation with EPF members, covers the key areas of concerns for EPF related to the implementation of AI in Healthcare. In particular: the need to address specific health challenges; the importance of date for safer and better AI; Transparent, effective, and sustainable AI research and innovation; Improve European coordination on AI; Boost skills and digital health literacy as a precondition to exploit AI at European level; Defining ‘risk’ for AI applications in healthcare; Establish assessment mechanisms for safe and ethical AI in healthcare; A fit-for-purpose regulatory framework to increase trust on AI. 

 

2021

- EPF Response to the European Commission Consultation on the European Health Data Space and AI ethical and legal requirements (2021) 

In our response to the European Commission Consultation on the European Health Data Space , we addressed how AI will fit in the EHDS initiative, with a particular attention to ethical risks and the new relationship between patients and healthcare professionals. Furthermore, EPF has also provided short feedback to the European Commission's AI - ethical and legal requirements consultation, mainly building on the documents listed above.

 

2022

- AI in Healthcare and the Patient's Perspective - reports:

The EU Policy and Legislative Framework on Artificial Intelligence (2022) - Jacqueline del Castillo and Lydia Nicholas

This report presents findings from research commissioned by the European Patients’ Forum (EPF) to understand the current state of European policy and legislation as it pertains to artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. The research involved in-depth interviews with AI policy experts and deployment actors in healthcare, webinars with patient advocates organised by EPF, and a micro survey informing the interviews.

Keep reading here. 

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare from a Patient’s Perspective (2022) - Jacqueline del Castillo and Lydia Nicholas

This report presents findings from research sponsored by the European Patients’ Forum (EPF) to understand the opportunities and challenges of deploying AI in health from a patient perspective. It surfaced views from eighteen AI deployment actors across Europe, disease conditions and advocacy priorities. Findings clustered around four themes: experiencing AI, understanding AI, patient involvement, and deployment challenges.

Keep reading here.

Find an accompanying infographic here.

 

2023

- AI in Healthcare: Advancing Patient-centric Care Through Co-design and Responsible Implementation (2023)

This position paper explores the applications, benefits, and challenges associated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare from a patient perspective, and provides key recommendations for a responsible deployment of AI solutions. 

The considerations and recommendations presented in this paper are based on a survey conducted by EPF in Spring 2023, targeting patient organisations and individual patient advocates, and the discussions with participants of a bootcamp on Artificial Intelligence conducted by the Data Saves Lives initiative that took place in March 2023. Their valuable insights, coupled with the expertise of EPF’s Digital Health Working Group, EPF’s members, and Secretariat, have shaped our recommendations. 

In our recommendations, we advocate for the application of 9 guiding principles. We want to make sure that artificial intelligence is applied in healthcare to enhance efficiency, fairness and ultimately, improve patients’ lives.

Check out the full position paper, read more here.