November 2024
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This conference examined the future of AI in healthcare - looking at key issues for development, adoption and regulation.
It took place with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care outlining the new Government’s plans to harness the power of AI technologies, with £1.5bn announced by the Chancellor in the October Budget that will in part go to doubling the number of AI-enabled diagnostic scanners. In light of the Chancellor outlining a further £2bn to invest in NHS technology and digital, this conference discussed priorities for AI within this area of investment, as well as options to support growth, with the Artificial Intelligence Opportunities Action Plan expected shortly.
The conference was also an opportunity to assess how the Government’s recently launched Regulatory Innovation Office can best approach setting and monitoring targets for regulatory approval. Areas for discussion included managing responsibility and safety alongside a drive for innovation, international competitiveness and leadership in best practice, and providing clarity and increased certainty for industry.
The conference brought together stakeholders, regulators and policymakers to assess the way forward for widening use of AI to support key areas in healthcare, including issues around safety and ensuring the readiness of healthcare systems and infrastructure for effective integration and rollout as the Government launches a consultation on a new 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS.
Delegates discussed the future for regulation and legislation affecting AI-based technologies, next steps for research and development, and supporting healthcare staff in adoption and adapting to the use of AI technologies.
With the MHRA outlining priorities in its Impact of AI on the regulation of medical products report, we expected discussion on options for a regulatory framework that meets the agency’s aim of a proportionate approach that takes into account unique challenges in this area, and how innovation can best be supported. It came alongside the launch of a new regulatory sandbox for AI as a medical device (AIaMD) to identify challenges for safe development and deployment.
Areas for discussion included options for managing risk while maximising benefits, the evidence and methods of evaluation that will be required to ensure patient safety and robust regulatory processes, support for industry in navigating the regulatory landscape, and improving access to quality datasets and developing data-related regulation.
We also expected discussion on funding priorities for AI development in healthcare, looking at cost-benefits, stimulating investment and the balance between private and public funding. Frameworks for collaboration between the NHS, developers, government and regulators werr discussed, as well as issues relating to oversight and governance, intellectual property, responsibilities and liability, and evaluating impact.
Further sessions looked at how equality in access to AI developments across the country can be achieved and next steps for addressing variation. They assessed priorities for training NHS staff in the context of workforce shortages, updating digital infrastructure to support implementation, and developing a strategic route for scaling up the use of AI in small pilot projects for rollout across the NHS.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Russell Pearson, AI Regulatory Policy and Projects Lead, MHRA; Gemma Warren, Policy Manager, AI and Data, HRA; Dr Rishi Das-Gupta, Chief Executive, Health Innovation Network, South London; Dr Andrew Leary, AI Manager, Royal College of Radiologists; and Professor Mihaela van der Schaar, John Humphrey Plummer Professor, University of Cambridge; and Director, Cambridge Centre for AI in Medicine.
All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those that attended include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from DHSC; DSIT; DBT; ONS; ICO; CQC; OLS; MHRA; HSE; PHA; UKHSA; Dstl; GO-Science; DfE; DfT; HMPPS; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
