Artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine is revolutionising healthcare by analysing large volumes of data to support diagnosis, predict risks and personalise treatments. Provided it is appropriately governed and complements rather than replaces human intelligence, AI offers considerable potential to improve care.
Given the rapid developments in AI and the fact that the questions involved are not specific to Switzerland, the SAMS has for the time being decided not to pursue its own activities in this area, but to engage at the international level.
European report on AI in healthcare
In 2026, the EASAC (European Academies Science Advisory Council) and the FEAM (Federation of European Academies of Medicine) published a joint report entitled «AI in European Healthcare: Policy Recommendations for Optimising Added Value and Safe, Ethical, and Inclusive Adoption».
What aspects of AI does the report examine?
The report adresses a wide range of issues, including regulatory considerations, data interoperability across healthcare systems, privacy protection, transparency, model explainability, ethical aspects of AI in healthcare, equitable access, and the workforce and training changes required to implement these tools effectively.
What recommendations does the report make?
The conclusion is clear: for innovation to serve the public interest and strengthen resilient and equitable health systems, scientific excellence must be combined with sound ethical principles and effective governance. The report sets out a series of recommendations to support policymakers, regulators, healthcare leaders and other stakeholders in successfully navigating this transition.
What was the SAMS's contribution?
The SAMS was represented on the working group by Prof. Christian Lovis (HUG) and delegated Prof. Paul Hoff, President of the Central Ethics Committee (CEC), to carry out the peer review.
Ethical perspective
Published in 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) guidance on artificial intelligence-related health research addresses the topic in a range of contexts. It provides recommendations for research ethics committees and other relevant bodies on the ethical review of projects involving AI. At the same time, it calls on researchers, developers and funding organisations involved in AI-related projects to use AI responsibly in health research.
The report emphasizes that ethics committees need the appropriate expertise, training and resources to assess studies involving AI. It also highlights the need for collaboration between researchers, institutions, authorities, scientific journals and data governance organizations to address risks that extend beyond individual projects. The WHO considers the report a first step towards developing standards and governance mechanisms that reconcile technological innovation with safety, human rights and equity.
AI in SAMS publications
Events
In 2018, the SAMS and its sister academy, the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW), jointly organised two events on artificial intelligence. The first was aimed at the general public and took place in Geneva as part of the Planète Santé fair. It focused on the question: «How will artificial intelligence transform medicine?» The second event brought together experts in Zurich to discuss the topic «Artificial intelligence in medicine – can it be trusted?».
Presentations and articles
- Program for 7 October 2018 at Salon Planète Santé, in French PDF, 148 KB
- Antoine Geissbühler: Presentation on the challenges associated with the arrival of AI in medicine, in French, PDF, 1 MB
- Report: Artificial intelligence in medicine (RMS 2018;14:2178–80), in French PDF, 355 KB
- Workshop Report: Artificial Intelligence in medicine – can it be trusted? (25.10.2018) PDF, 215 KB
«Notre vision de l'hôpital du futur»