WHO/Europe will host a webinar on 8 October to explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of electronic health records (EHRs). This is the 15th webinar in the Decoding Data and Digital Health series, which addresses digital health topics of importance to countries in the WHO European Region.
Cornerstone of digital transformation
EHRs enable continuity of care, support population health management and provide the foundation for advanced analytics. With the rise of AI, these records are evolving from static repositories into dynamic platforms that make predictive analytics, clinical decision support and personalized medicine possible.
Findings from the 2023 report on the state of digital health in the Region highlight that 87% of Member States have a national EHR system, interconnected regional systems or a patient portal. Nearly all (91%) have legislation in place to support the use of their national EHRs. However, insufficient funding remains a key barrier to implementation in at least 37% of countries. Interoperability is another pressing challenge. While almost all Member States recognize information sharing and data reuse as strategic priorities, progress in achieving this is uneven.
The integration of AI into EHRs offers promising opportunities to improve diagnosis, optimize workflows and deliver more patient-centred care. At the same time, it raises important concerns around transparency, data quality, bias and equitable access. Without strong governance and safeguards, AI-enabled EHRs could risk deepening existing health disparities, especially for populations that are digitally excluded.
The Regional Digital Health Action Plan for the WHO European Region 2023–2030 underlines that EHR systems, particularly when enhanced by AI, must be interoperable, inclusive and governed by robust frameworks. These frameworks need to protect privacy, strengthen digital health literacy and ensure equity in health.
The webinar
The 1-hour event will invite international experts to discuss how AI is reshaping the future of EHRs and their role in health-care delivery. The audience will be able to participate in a question-and-answer session and learn about best practices, challenges and policy recommendations regarding responsible AI integration into EHRs.
The event will be hosted in English and Russian. It is open to the public, including digital health developers, health and care workers, policy-makers, researchers and representatives of advocacy groups. Please use the registration link if you are interested in taking part.
The Decoding Data and Digital Health webinar series is supported by the European Commission (Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety) through the action “Supporting Member States in the WHO European Region in strengthening health information systems and boosting health data governance”.