Event highlights
WHO and Portugal launch collaboration on the use of AI in health
WHO/Europe and the government of Portugal have launched a new, joint initiative to strengthen Portugal’s capacity in using artificial intelligence (AI) in health. The initiative is expected to create practical solutions that can make health systems stronger and more resilient. By building this capacity in Portugal, WHO/Europe aims to create models that can be adapted and scaled across the European Region to advance the safe, ethical and effective use of AI in health.
“The responsible and ethical use of AI in health care is vital to the transformation our health systems urgently need. That is why it is a priority in our new European Programme of Work,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Portugal has long been a pioneer in health innovation, and this partnership marks an important step to ensure that AI strengthens health systems, improves care and protects the most vulnerable in our Region.”
Partnership with Portugal
The partnership is expected to support countries in detecting diseases earlier and with greater accuracy, developing predictive models that help prevent errors and improve patient safety, optimizing hospital workflows to reduce waiting times, and expanding access to care for people in rural or underserved areas through smarter digital tools. As well as addressing critical public health challenges, the initiative aims to strengthen regional leadership on the responsible use of AI, ensuring technical excellence and building capacity for countries across the European Region.
Dr Ana Paula Martins, Minister of Health of Portugal, stressed the importance of this work for the country’s future: “For Portugal, investing in AI for health means investing in stronger, more resilient health systems and better care for our population, which exceeds 10 million. We are already testing AI tools to improve diagnostics and optimize remote monitoring for patients with chronic conditions. This partnership with WHO ensures that our efforts are aligned with international best practices and that Portugal can serve as a model for safe and equitable implementation across the European Region”.
Professor Álvaro Almeida, Executive Director of the country’s National Health Service, added that AI is already showing tangible benefits at the operational level. “We see AI as a tool that can support health professionals, not replace them. In several hospitals, AI-assisted tools are helping us deliver personalized care and optimize workflows. These innovations can improve efficiency and patient safety, but only if we address key challenges, like security and data quality.”
A regional dialogue on this matter took place in Porto on 25 September with around 150 participants, including WHO experts, the Minister of Health of Portugal, senior public health professionals and policy-makers from across the Region.
Towards safe AI for all
The Porto dialogue provided a platform for discussion on the opportunities and challenges of AI in health. Participants examined the key factors and lessons to be learned that influence the integration of AI into health-care systems, the implications of emerging AI legislation for patients’ rights across the Region and the European Union, and the potential of AI tools to enhance quality of care and improve patient safety. Speakers also reflected on the risks of inequitable access, ethical dilemmas and the need for robust governance frameworks to ensure that AI serves the public good.
Formulating direction to support decision-making in digital health and enhancing country capacities to better govern digital transformation are core priorities of the Regional Digital Health Action Plan for the WHO European Region 2023–2030.
Event notice
WHO/Europe, the Ministry of Health of Portugal, the National Health Service of Portugal and the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Health will co-host a regional dialogue on artificial intelligence (AI) for health in Porto on 25 September 2025. The event titled “Health, humanity and AI: building a responsible future” will be open to the public via a livestream.
Programme
The event will feature WHO experts as well as key health decision-makers from Portugal and other countries in the WHO European Region. The participants will exchange insights on opportunities, challenges and solutions for implementing AI safely and responsibly in the Region’s diverse health systems. Discussions will focus on AI legislation, the potential to enhance quality of care and patient safety, risks of inequitable access, ethical issues and the necessary governance frameworks to ensure that AI serves the public good.
The provisional agenda is as follows (all times are in CEST-1):
09:00–09:30 – Welcome remarks
09:45–10:15 – Transforming health through AI: a WHO/Europe–Portugal initiative
10:45–12:00 – Fireside chat on AI in health: lessons learned from Finland, France, Germany and Uzbekistan
12:00–13:00 – Panel discussion on key factors influencing the implementation of AI in the health-care system in Portugal
14:30-15:00 – AI legislation and patients’ rights in the WHO European Region and the European Union
15:00–15:30 – AI as a tool to improve quality of care and ensure better patient safety: challenges and opportunities
15:30–16:30 – Panel discussion: Leveraging artificial intelligence for better health in Europe
16:30–17:00 – Closing remarks
Promoting dialogue and knowledge exchange, as well as formulating direction to support decision-making in digital health and enhancing country capacities to better govern digital transformation are core priorities of the Regional Digital Health Action Plan for the WHO European Region 2023–2030.
The livestream will be available at: