Commentary: Medical AI should not stop at the border

A commentary published in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung argues that the geographical limitations placed on medical artificial intelligence (AI) are hindering its accessibility and benefit within the European Union. The piece highlights the case of 'Open Evidence,' a platform that processes medical literature, which is currently unavailable in the EU and the UK due to geoblocking, unlike in Switzerland.

The authors, Petra Stute and Sarah Montani, attribute this restriction to regulatory uncertainties surrounding the EU's AI Act. Systems that support medical decisions are classified as high-risk AI, potentially facing stringent requirements for transparency and human oversight. This creates a paradox where regulations aimed at reducing risks might inadvertently exclude valuable tools from healthcare provision.

They contend that the sheer volume of medical knowledge, with over 40 million entries in PubMed and thousands of new publications daily, makes it impossible for individual professionals to stay fully informed. Medical AI, they argue, is crucial for navigating this information overload. The commentary uses the example of menopause, noting that despite extensive international guidelines and effective therapies, the topic remains underrepresented in medical care and health policy, partly due to historical underrepresentation of women in clinical studies.

The piece advocates for a broader perspective, framing preventive medicine, including comprehensive care during menopause, as an investment in health, work capacity, and the long-term economy. The authors suggest that access to scientific evidence should not be determined by a doctor's location, implying a need for a more unified and accessible approach to advanced medical technologies across the EU.