Can Artificial Intelligence Shift Healthcare from Treatment to Prevention?

As Europe’s ageing population puts increasing pressure on healthcare systems, artificial intelligence (AI) could play a significant role in the early detection and prevention of diseases. However, experts believe that achieving this shift will require changes not only in technology but also in healthcare financing and regulatory mechanisms.

According to Euronews, Ricardo Baptista Leite, CEO of HealthAI, a global organisation working to promote responsible AI, said that introducing AI into an inefficient healthcare system does not eliminate existing problems. Instead, it can make those inefficiencies persist more effectively.

He noted that healthcare systems should prioritise disease prevention alongside treatment. Currently, hospitals are generally funded more for treating illnesses than for keeping people healthy. A shift towards prevention will require new funding models that incentivise early intervention and the continuous monitoring of patients’ health.

By analysing health data alongside social factors, AI can help identify people at high risk of developing certain diseases before symptoms appear. This could expand opportunities for early intervention before conditions worsen and enable more efficient use of healthcare resources.

According to Baptista Leite, the main objective should not be limited to saving the lives of people suffering from serious conditions such as heart attacks, but should also include preventing such events from occurring in the first place.

Trust and Safety Are Essential for AI in Healthcare

The widespread adoption of AI in healthcare also depends on the technology’s safety and public trust. This requires continuous monitoring of AI systems even after they have been approved and introduced into clinical practice, as well as the timely identification of potential risks.

Hans Henri P. Kluge, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Director for Europe, previously warned that although AI solutions are becoming increasingly common in European hospitals, regulatory oversight remains insufficient in many countries.

Approximately two-thirds of the 53 countries in the WHO European Region already use AI-based diagnostic tools. Around half have also introduced AI-powered patient chatbots. However, only about 12 countries have a strategy for AI governance.

Kluge described the situation as concerning and warned that it could undermine public trust in healthcare systems.

A Global Early Warning System Is in Development

HealthAI is working with regulators in 10 countries to identify adverse events and facilitate the exchange of information about emerging risks. The organisation aims to establish a global early warning mechanism that would enable potential problems with AI systems to be detected at an early stage.

According to Baptista Leite, such a system could help identify risks promptly, prevent them from spreading and protect citizens.

Overall, AI has the potential to shift healthcare away from a model centred on treating diseases towards one focused on prevention and early intervention. However, fully realising this potential will require improvements not only in technology but also in financing, regulation and safety mechanisms.