EU’s vision for artificial intelligence to help transform cancer treatment across Europe 

A new statement, signed by multiple organisations, calls for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in cancer treatment and diagnosis across Europe. Cancer diagnoses in Europe are expected to rise from 2.7 million annually to over 3.2 million by 2040. Treatments continue to improve but they remain costly and are not always accessible to everyone. The EU’s response is a shift to AI to improve personalised care, enable better treatment results and lower costs. 

AI-powered tools can help doctors identify and treat cancer more effectively and predict the best treatment plans for each patient. This approach can help to strengthen shared decision-making and ensure treatment options are accessible and affordable to patients throughout Europe. 

The EU Health Policy Platform, which has played a key role in bringing together patient organisations, research institutions and healthcare providers, has outlined a clear plan to overcome challenges which may impact the introduction of AI in healthcare. The platform emphasises the importance of working together to support AI research and regulation, aligning the efforts of EU institutions, Member States and other groups. 

Call to action 

ELF have signed and endorsed the joint statement alongside 66 other organisations and individuals. The statement outlines key actions to support the introduction of AI to create more personalised and effective treatment for cancer patients and urges the European Commission, European Parliament and EU Member States to develop clear guidelines for the new European legislation. This will ensure legal clarity, avoid research delays and allow patients across Europe to benefit from new technologies. The signatories also stress the need to prioritise funding for collaborative research and data-sharing to improve personalised treatments for cancer patients. 

1. Clear guidelines for AI in healthcare
   European governments need to create clear rules for using AI in healthcare, ensuring that AI tools can be used effectively and safely in cancer care. 
2. Testing AI tools for cancer
   AI tools that predict cancer treatment outcomes should be tested and approved for reliability to help doctors choose the best treatments. 
3. Using AI in cancer research
   AI-based imaging tools should be used in cancer research, requiring more funding and better collaboration between medical and technology sectors. 
4. Improving cancer screening
   AI can make cancer screenings more accurate, faster and less invasive, improving early detection and making tests more affordable and available. 
5. Collaboration across sectors
   Doctors, researchers, patients and legal experts must work together to ensure AI in cancer care is effective, ethical and beneficial to all. 
6. Developing a united AI research strategy
   The EU should support a new strategy to develop and test AI tools in real healthcare settings to improve cancer care. 
7. Improving data sharing and quality
   Better sharing and management of data across Europe are needed to make AI tools more effective, ensuring data is reliable and easy to access. 
8. Making health data more accessible
   The European Health Data Space (EHDS) can help improve how health data is shared, ensuring AI tools have the best data to work with. 
9. Seamless use of AI in hospitals
   AI tools must fit into hospital workflows easily, helping doctors use AI insights without disrupting their daily routines. 
10. Ensuring AI meets safety standards and build trust
    AI tools in healthcare must meet strict safety standards and be transparent, so doctors, patients, and the public trust their use in cancer care.

By following these recommendations, Europe can make the most of AI to improve cancer care, making sure the technology is fair, effective and helps strengthen Europe’s role as a leader in AI healthcare innovation.