HUG pioneers AI-powered healthcare with Switzerland’s first medical chatbot

The University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) have introduced Switzerland’s first AI-driven medical chatbot, “confIAnce”, providing reliable, verified general medical information. This innovation represents a major step in integrating artificial intelligence into Swiss healthcare.

The HUG have launched “confIAnce”’ the first AI-powered medical chatbot in Switzerland, designed to provide reliable, verified general medical information to both the public and healthcare professionals. The chatbot aims to alleviate the growing strain on primary care services while ensuring patients receive accurate and easily accessible health information.

Unlike search engines and social media, which often provide unreliable medical advice, confIAnce is based on verified documentation from the Primary Care Division of HUG. The chatbot does not diagnose or replace medical consultations, but serves as a trusted source of medical knowledge. It offers information on 30 common chronic conditions, including anemia, depression and hay fever, and provides instant answers in multiple languages.

HUG has been at the forefront of digital healthcare, having previously developed chatbots for administrative support and post-COVID symptoms. With over 23,000 interactions recorded in 2024, this new chatbot expands HUG’s AI-driven healthcare solutions.

Professor Idris Guessous, Chief Physician of the Primary Care Division and Head of the Innovation Center at HUG, emphasizes the chatbot’s role in improving medical consultations: “Using artificial intelligence as a complementary tool frees up time for essential discussions and enhances the quality of patient interactions.” Dr. Mayssam Nehme, project lead, highlighted the chatbot’s usability, making medical guidance more interactive and accessible than static technical documents.

Developed in collaboration with a Swiss AI provider, confIAnce ensures strict compliance with Swiss and European privacy regulations. All interactions remain anonymous and no account creation is required, further enhancing patient privacy.

By integrating AI into Swiss healthcare for the first time, HUG is setting a precedent for innovation in patient support and medical efficiency, demonstrating how technology can complement traditional healthcare services.