On 1‑2 December 2025, the European Digital Health Summit took place in Madrid. A major two‑day hybrid event gathering experts, policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders from across Europe and beyond. The summit focused on how digital technologies, including AI, data sharing, and digital infrastructure can transform health systems, strengthen resilience, and support equitable access to care.
Day 1: AI, Health System Resilience, and the Promise of Digital Health
The first day of the European Digital Health Summit 2025 began with an institutional opening, featuring Marco Marsella, Director for Digital, EU4Health, and Health Systems Modernisation at the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission. In his address, Mr. Marsella emphasized the European Commission’s commitment to advancing digital health across Europe. He highlighted key initiatives aimed at strengthening health systems and improving patient outcomes, stressing the importance of coordinated policies, cross-border collaboration, and innovative digital solutions in achieving these goals.
Subsequently, the first plenary session on “Bridging Innovation and Competitiveness: AI’s Role in the Future of Healthcare” began, where speakers such as Anca Scortariu, Deputy Head of Unit for “Al in Health and Life Sciences“, European Al Office, European Commission, underlined how AI can enhance healthcare delivery, particularly by enabling early detection (e.g. cardiovascular screening) via a network of screening centres. The discussion stressed the need to move beyond isolated pilots and integrate AI solutions into real clinical workflows.
Additional speakers including Rob Smeets (Director Public-Private Partnerships for Philips), Antoine Larpin (Vice President Government Affairs and Policy Europe, Kyndryl), and Luis Seco (Director, Mathematical Finance Program at University of Toronto) addressed the importance of public‑private cooperation, robust data infrastructure, and workforce training, emphasizing that successful AI deployment requires not only technical innovation, but also readiness of healthcare professionals and regulatory support. Discussions also touched on ethical considerations, data governance, and patient safety, underlining the need for strategic partnerships and human-centred design in the deployment of AI solutions.
Afterward, in the second plenary, “Strengthening Health Systems Resilience: A Multidata Approach”, the focus shifted to cross‑border data exchange, security, and preparedness where speakers such as Ruth del Campo (Director General of Data at the Spanish Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Administration) highlighted the challenges of Spain’s decentralized health system and the role of the Spanish Health Data Space (ENDS) in improving data sharing for research. Lola Rebollo Revesado (Director for the Public Sector at CLOUDERA) discussed the importance of secure data management and public trust, stressing the need for rapid data responses in crises. Furthermore, Elena Torrente (Director of Strategic Development, Innovation, and Digital Health at DKV) addressed the fragmented nature of data integration in Spain and the potential of AI for digital health innovation. Finally, Simon Estades (Regional Director at Orion Health) emphasised the need for national governance and common data standards to ensure interoperability across Europe’s health systems. The session also focused on the role of cybersecurity in maintaining continuity of care during emergencies.
The day also covered broader topics such as ethical considerations, patient safety, and governance, highlighting the need for strategic partnerships, unified data systems, and human-centred design to ensure successful and sustainable digital health transformation across Europe. The importance of building resilient, adaptable health systems through digital innovation was central to all discussions.
Day 2: From Data Standards to Workforce, Security, and Global Cooperation
The second day featured a series of parallel sessions addressing key challenges and opportunities for scaling digital health across Europe:
EEHRxF Readiness: a session on the readiness of Member States to implement the European Electronic Health Record Exchange Format (EEHRxF), exploring technical and governance barriers and strategies for harmonised adoption across borders.
Medicines Procurement and Innovation: an examination of how procurement policies can influence access to medicines, support innovation, and ensure supply‑chain resilience (beyond lowest‑price criteria, promoting value‑based approaches).
Cybersecurity and Patient Safety: given rising cyber threats to healthcare infrastructure, one session focused on practical measures for hospitals to map assets, assess vulnerabilities (such as in medical devices), and implement risk mitigation plans aligned with EU standards.
One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): this session explored the “One Health” approach, linking human, animal, and environmental health data to address antimicrobial resistance, improve surveillance, and drive coordinated public‑health action.
Digital Skills and Workforce Training: recognizing that the digital transformation of health requires a skilled workforce, a breakout session showcased EU‑funded initiatives for upskilling and reskilling via modular frameworks, micro‑credentials, and cross‑border placements.
EU–LAC Cooperation in Digital Health: a dedicated session, stakeholders from Europe and Latin America discussed long‑term cooperation in digital health, skills development, innovation, and policy alignment, representing a global perspective on digital health transformation.
Summit Themes and Outlook
Throughout these two days, the Summit addressed four central themes: strengthening healthcare systems and workforce resilience; advancing the digital transformation of health (AI, telemedicine, interoperable data); promoting the One Health approach; and ensuring equitable access to medicines and innovation across Europe and beyond.
The event highlighted the urgency of developing interoperable data infrastructures, promoting cybersecurity, aligning procurement and supply‑chain policies, and investing in human capital and skills, which represent all essential to deliver on the promise of a connected, resilient, and inclusive European healthcare ecosystem.
During the final day of the event, Anna Maksimainen from Nordic Healthcare Group (NHG) delivered a compelling statement on the transformative potential of value-based healthcare models, indeed she underscored how NHG’s experiences have demonstrated the effectiveness of these approaches in reshaping care delivery. In addition, she stressed the need for a paradigm shift in healthcare procurement: moving away from a lowest-price focus to a model that rewards quality and measurable outcomes. “Shifting to a system that prioritizes quality over cost enables suppliers to thrive, while simultaneously strengthening health systems,” Anna explained. This shift, she argued, is not limited to healthcare services but extends to the procurement of medicines as well.
For detailed information about the programme check here!