Call for better regulation of AI-based medical products

Products based on artificial intelligence should be regulated like drugs, and those that are deemed unsafe should be removed from the market, according to a new report. The report commissioned by NHS Digital noted that AI-based products are likely to fall under the remit of the UK’s regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). But they will also have implications for other organizations, according to the report from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, who investigated the clinical, ethical and practical issues of using the technology in the NHS.
Other organizations affected will be the medical regulator, the General Medical Council, which will need to give clear guidelines on the appropriate use of AI. Medical defense organizations may need to be prepared given the increasing number of patients given AI-generated decisions and recommendations. The Care Quality Commission regulator for hospitals and clinics will have to consider how AI systems will impact on the quality of care, with NHS Digital taking a role in risk management.