MedTech Europe publishes its position paper on Artificial Intelligence

Posted on 04.12.2019

MedTech Europe has published a position paper “Artificial Intelligence in MedTech: Delivering on the Promise of Better Healthcare in Europe” in which it welcomes the European Commission’s new focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and provides policy recommendations that are especially relevant for the healthcare sector. The medical technology industry envisages a great potential of AI in improving healthcare throughout Europe when some challenges that currently impede its deployment have been overcome.

One of the greatest benefits of AI is its ability to learn from real-world use and experience through which it improves its performance. This characteristic could be of use in the healthcare sector as there has been a rapid growth in the amount of health data.

However, there are some technical, legal and social challenges that stand in the way of AI deployment. As a solution, the medical technology sector recommends, in reference to the policy measures drafted by the High Level Expert Group on AI: to align infrastructure in order to provide a consistent data flow, to establish a strong governance framework, to equip the workforce with the necessary skills, and to invest in research and innovation as well as resources for implementation and deployment.

Above all, Medtech Europe and its members are committed to be a trusted and collaborative partner, and to provide a sector-specific perspective to the European Commission in its efforts to lay down an EU framework for AI that is dynamic and sustainable.