Report · Dubai Online
The UK needs new regulations for AI products used in the NHS and other healthcare settings, says Britain's industry watchdog. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which regulates all medical devices and licenses treatment drugs in the UK, has published 44 recommendations to update its policies as the use of AI in the sector rises. The technology will soon be routinely used within the NHS, MHRA chief Lawrence Tallon told the BBC.
"What I would expect is that patients will... increasingly see AI as part of the way that normal NHS healthcare is delivered," he said. "That should happen in a way that they can maintain their trust and their confidence in what's happening." The report was compiled by an independent commission and involved input from over 12,000 people, including patients and clinicians. The recommendations include continuously monitoring AI products and removing them if they malfunction or become less effective over time.
Patients should be informed about AI involvement in their care, and developers could face penalties if AI fails to meet standards. An "AI L plate" system will allow closer trials by healthcare professionals. Tallon noted that current regulatory frameworks, designed for static medical devices like hip replacements, do not adequately address evolving AI models.
"Unlike most medical products, these continue to change after authorization," he said. "As new data is fed in, they learn, adapt, and drift." AI note-takers, or scribes, powered by large language models, are used by 40% of UK-based GPs to record consultations. However, a University of Edinburgh study found patients may be less likely to share personal information if they know their data is processed by AI.
Professor Henrietta Hughes, a GP involved in the report, said while many patients accept AI use, some opt out. "Some say, 'I don't want to talk to a robot,' and that is fine," she said. While AI currently assists with administrative tasks and symptom spotting, there is excitement about its potential in healthcare and medical research.
Professor Alastair Denniston, an ophthalmologist, called AI an "exceptional opportunity" akin to advancements like antibiotics and MRI. However, concerns remain about AI biases in training data and incorrect medical advice from AI chatbots. In September, Arm CEO Rene Haas predicted a cancer cure within our lifetime.
Source: BBC
