Brussels, 25 February 2026 — Representing the WONCA Europe Executive Board, our Honorary Treasurer, Ana Maria Alexandra Stanescu, participated in the high-level policy debate “Empowering the Health Workforce in the Age of AI” held at the European Parliament.
The event was hosted by Members of the European Parliament András Kulja, MD (EPP, Hungary) and Vytenis Andriukaitis (S&D, Lithuania), in collaboration with the European Health Forum Gastein, the European Health Union Initiative, and the Bosch Health Campus.
The Core Question: Can AI Solve the Workforce Crisis? 🩺🤔
The debate brought together a multi-stakeholder group of policymakers, clinicians, and researchers to discuss whether artificial intelligence can meaningfully address the health workforce shortage across Europe.
The consensus was clear: while AI offers significant support for health systems, it cannot replace health professionals. Sustainable digital transformation requires a foundation of governance, investment, trust, and rapid skills development.
The discussion highlighted several pillars that are vital for the future of Primary Care:
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AI as an Enabler, Not a Substitute: AI must be positioned as a clinical decision-support tool. The human relationship, continuity of care, and contextual judgment fundamental to Family Medicine cannot be automated.
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Dual Investment: Technological tools cannot compensate for structural underfunding. Investment in AI must go hand-in-hand with workforce planning and safe staffing levels.
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Closing the Skills Gap: There is an urgent need to integrate AI literacy into undergraduate medical curricula and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
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Active Co-Design: Family doctors must be involved "upstream" as co-creators of these tools, ensuring they meet the actual needs of clinicians and patients.
Strategic Implications for WONCA Europe 🚀✅
Representing the interests of Family Physicians across Europe, Dr. Stanescu’s attendance ensured that our perspective—grounded in equity and person-centered care—was present in this strategic conversation.
Moving forward, WONCA Europe remains committed to advocating for the inclusion of primary care in EU AI working groups and developing ethical guidance for the safe integration of AI into clinical workflows.
"It was a strategic opportunity to ensure that family medicine was represented at the highest EU level. AI is not a peripheral topic; it is intrinsically linked to our workforce sustainability, professional autonomy, and patient safety." > — Ana Maria Alexandra Stanescu, WONCA Europe Honorary Treasurer