New commission to shape AI regulation for NHS as UK seeks global health tech leadership

A new national commission has been launched to accelerate the safe adoption of artificial intelligence in the NHS, bringing together clinical leaders, patient advocates, and technology experts from companies such as Google and Microsoft.

The commission’s primary task is to advise the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on a new regulatory rulebook for AI in healthcare, which is expected to be published next year.

The commission will immediately review technologies currently held back by regulatory uncertainty, including AI-powered ambient voice technology for clinical note-taking. Early trials of this technology have shown that it can reduce administrative burdens, allowing clinicians to spend more time with patients and increasing the number of people seen in accident and emergency departments. The commission will also provide guidance on AI tools for radiology, pathology, and remote patient monitoring, supporting the NHS’s digital transformation and the government’s ambition to make the UK a global hub for health tech investment.

Lawrence Tallon, chief executive of the MHRA, emphasised the need for regulation to keep pace with innovation, stating, “We want regulation of AI in healthcare to move at the pace of innovation. AI has enormous potential to transform patient outcomes, improving quality, access and equity of care while driving efficiency. It is crucial that AI regulation maintains patient safety and public confidence. By bringing together leading voices in healthcare, technology, and patient safety, this commission will help establish the UK as a global leader in responsible AI healthcare regulation”.

The commission is chaired by Professor Alastair Denniston, head of the UK’s Centre of Excellence in Regulatory Science in AI & Digital Health, with Professor Henrietta Hughes, patient safety commissioner, serving as deputy chair.

Professor Denniston described the commission as “a vital step in ensuring the UK leads the way in responsible innovation, and in accelerating the availability of AI technologies that can support better health for everyone. By bringing together diverse expertise we can build a regulatory framework for AI that is trusted by the public and health professionals, and delivers real benefits for patients”.

The commission’s work is supported by the Health Foundation and will include a formal call for evidence to gather input from across the UK and internationally. Jennifer Dixon, chief executive of the Health Foundation, noted, “A robust and ethical framework is essential to maintain momentum, build trust in the technology among staff and patients and ensure the UK remains a leader in responsible AI in healthcare”.

The UK’s approach is intended to provide clarity and confidence for technology companies and investors, with the aim of balancing innovation with patient safety and public trust.