An independent expert commission has published a blueprint for the regulation of AI in healthcare in the U.K., and the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) has voiced support.
The National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare recommends faster access to safe and effective AI, continuous real-world monitoring throughout the lifecycle of AI-enabled medical devices, public access to safety information, and stronger powers to protect patients. The government and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will now consider the commission's recommendations.
The RCR said it supported the development of the blueprint through its involvement in the commission. RCR President Dr. Stephen Harden said the college was particularly pleased to see specific support for post-deployment monitoring of AI-enabled medical devices, which he said would give clinicians greater confidence to use AI tools while protecting patient safety.
Harden called on the government and MHRA to implement the recommendations without delay, and said the RCR would support doctors' training in AI and seek to influence national policy.
