Assessing the Readiness of the Slovak Republic for Implementing Artificial Intelligence in Epidemiological Surveillance: An Analysis of 75 AIRA Indicators

This study assesses the readiness of the Slovak Republic for AI implementation in epidemiological surveillance by analyzing all 75 indicators of the Artificial Intelligence for Health in the WHO European Region (AIRA) database. A single-case desk research design was used. The analysis focused on Slovakia’s AIRA country profile and was complemented by the WHO regional analytical report, an EU-specific analysis of 27 Member States, relevant European Union regulatory context, and national documents of the Slovak Republic. The findings reveal an internally contrasting readiness profile. Slovakia has a specialized national AI strategy for healthcare, indicating an advanced strategic position, but systemic national application of AI for prognosis prediction and risk stratification has not been recorded. Legal uncertainty was identified as a high-significance barrier, while financial affordability, approval procedures, workforce capacity, trust, and cultural barriers were assessed as moderately significant. The study identifies a strategy-practice gap between the existing strategic framework and the operationalization of AI-supported predictive epidemiological surveillance. Key priorities for further development include regulatory certainty, health data governance, multidisciplinary workforce development, controlled AI piloting, model validation and monitoring, and institutionalized human-in-the-loop mechanisms. The study provides an analytical basis for the further adaptation and expert validation of the AIRA framework specifically for AI-supported epidemiological surveillance and for subsequent comparative assessment across European countries.