U.K. groups call for coherent strategy on AI

The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), and the Society of Radiographers (SoR) have called for a properly trained and funded workforce and clear, consistent regulations for AI implementation.

This plea came as part of their responses to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) consultation document on the regulation of AI in healthcare.

Together, they developed the following three recommendations toward regulatory priorities:

• End-to-end assurance across the AI lifecycle. This includes regulations requiring proportionate premarket evidence, transparent communication of limitations, and mandatory postmarket surveillance to detect performance drift and bias. Clinicians would retain oversight throughout this process.
   
• Workforce capacity as a patient safety requirement. National workforce planning, funded training pathways, recognized roles, and protected time must be central to regulation via a trained, resourced workforce.
   
• Clear system-wide accountability. Regulation should be clear on where responsibility lies between manufacturers, healthcare organizations, and professionals. This includes expectations for transparency, training, postmarket monitoring, and liability.

The societies stated that AI's use is expanding rapidly as the technology is embedded across imaging and radiotherapy. They called for regulation to be grounded in real clinical practice, reflecting patient safety, workforce capacity, and National Health Service (NHS) delivery realities.

Also, the RCR has responded to the U.K.'s AI and robotic pilot scheme to detect lung cancer. Go to the RCR website for more details.