Robert Griebler is a health sociologist and has been working at Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG) since 2012, currently in the Competence Center for Health Promotion and Health Systems. He is an expert in health literacy and scientific director of the International Coordination Centre (ICC) of the WHO Action Network on Measuring Population and Organizational Health Literacy (M-POHL). He has conducted studies on the health literacy of children and adults, the professional health literacy of healthcare professionals, and the nutritional literacy of the population.

Healthcare systems are under increasing pressure. Funding and staff shortages, combined with an ageing population and high expectations for the quality of care, demonstrate that existing structures are reaching their limits. Digitalization in healthcare and strengthening patients' self care capacities are seen as potential solutions. At the same time, chatbots and social media have become major sources of health and illness information, particularly among younger people, increasing the risks posed by misinformation and disinformation.

Recent data, such as findings from the M-POHL HLS19 study, show that large parts of the population have difficulty processing online health information. The growing popularity of AI chatbots exacerbates this challenge further, as many people now use them instead of traditional search engines. Most of all, users feel unable to judge the reliability, accuracy, and relevance of the information they receive in relation to their own situation.

Within the healthcare system, patients who have already consulted online sources encounter health professionals who can provide only limited guidance on how to deal with online health information. This is partly due to a lack of digital health literacy among professionals and partly to insufficient communication skills that can support learning processes during consultations. Additionally, training patients to use digital applications is becoming increasingly important.

This underscores the importance of quality-assured online information resources that are easily identifiable and widely recognized. It also emphasizes the need for health professionals with strong digital health literacy and effective communication skills. Moreover, healthcare organizations must evolve into health-literate organizations that better align more closely with users’ needs and act as reliable partners in the digital transformation.

Anna Odone (MD MSc MPH DrPH PhD) is Full Professor and Director of the School of Public Health at the University of Pavia. She President of the 3^rd Section of the Supreme Health Council (CSS) of the Italian Ministry of Health in charge of Public Health and prevention. Medical doctor by training, Prof. Odone received an M.Sc. in Epidemiology  from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (London, UK) and an M.P.H. in Health Policy and Management as a Fulbright Scholar from the Harvard School of Public Health (Boston, US). She holds a PhD in Medical Sciences from the University of Parma.

Prof Odone is the President of the Digital Health & Artificial Intelligence Section of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) and  Coordinator of the National PhD programme in “One Health Approaches to Infectious Diseases and Life Science Research”. Her research is in the field of infectious diseases epidemiology, prevention and control, with a focus on vaccines and healthcare-associated infections, digital public health and artificial intelligence applied to preventive medicine.

The digital transformation of public health systems in Europe is creating new opportunities to strengthen prevention, surveillance, and response strategies, particularly in the field of infectious diseases. The increasing availability of health data, combined with the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), offers significant potential to improve decision-making processes and support core public health values such as equity, accessibility, efficiency, and transparency. Infectious disease management represents one of the most relevant areas in which AI can contribute, as demonstrated during recent global health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

AI technologies can enhance early detection of outbreaks through real-time analysis of epidemiological data, electronic health records, mobility patterns, and environmental indicators. Predictive models may support public health authorities in identifying vulnerable populations, forecasting disease spread, and allocating healthcare resources more effectively. In addition, AIdriven digital tools can improve vaccination strategies, strengthen contact tracing systems, and facilitate personalized communication campaigns aimed at increasing public awareness and compliance with preventive measures.

However, the integration of AI into public health governance also raises important ethical, legal, and social concerns. Issues related to data privacy, algorithmic bias, digital exclusion, and the transparency of automated decisions may threaten trust and fairness if not properly addressed. In the European context, where public health policies are strongly linked to principles of solidarity and universal access, AI implementation must be guided by robust regulatory frameworks and interdisciplinary collaboration.

This presentation will explore the role of AI in supporting public health digitalization in Europe, focusing on infectious diseases as a case study. It analyzes both the opportunities and the limitations of AI-based interventions, emphasizing the need for human-centered governance to ensure that technological innovation remains aligned with public health values and contributes to resilient, inclusive, and sustainable health systems.