Lawrence Tallon, Chief Executive Officer of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (credit: MHRA)
A new national committee, including Google and Microsoft experts, will help accelerate access to AI Ambient Voice Technology (AVT) for clinical note take.
Early testing of AVT found “transformative benefits” in patients and clinicians, but their adoption is curtailed by regulatory uncertainty.
The UK National Committee on Regulation of AI at Healthcare, which includes leading high-tech companies, leading clinicians, researchers and patient advocates, advises the Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to speed up access to modern AI tools.
“We are pleased to announce that we are committed to providing a range of services and services to our customers,” said Lawrence Talon, CEO of MHRA.
“AI has great potential to transform patient outcomes and improve quality, access and care equity.
“It is important that AI regulations maintain patient safety and public trust.
“By bringing together key voices in healthcare, technology and patient safety, this committee will help establish the UK as a global leader in responsible AI healthcare regulations.
“MHRA will act on the committee's recommendations to support the NHS' digital transformation and promote the UK's ambition to become a global hub for health technology investment.”
Supported as a research partner by the Health Foundation, THe is the committee Helps you write a Regulatory Rules Book for Healthcare AI for release in 2026 It provides regulatory clarity for AI tools such as radiology, pathology, and remote surveillance systems.
“We're excited to be able to help you get started,” said Jennifer Dixon, CEO of the Health Foundation. “The NHS 10-Year Plan has set a bold vision for AI, but regulations need to respond to innovation and promote effective use and spread.
“A robust and ethical framework is essential to maintain momentum, build trust in technology between staff and patients, and ensure that the UK remains a responsible AI leader in healthcare.”
The approach also hopes to attract technology companies to invest in the development and use of innovation in the UK.
Liz Kendall, Secretary of Science, said: “This committee will ensure that the UK is able to use these game-changing technologies as safely as possible, helping more us live a healthier, longer life and support the NHS.”
The committee will be chaired by Professor Alastair Denniston, head of the UK's Centre for Science of Excellence in AI & Digital Health, and chaired by Professor Henrietta Hughes, UK Patient Safety Committee.
Denniston said: “This committee presents key steps to help the UK lead the way in responsible innovation and promote the availability of AI technologies that can support better health for everyone.
“By bringing together a diverse range of expertise, we can build a regulatory framework for AI that is trusted by the public and health professionals and that offers a real benefit to our patients.”
Formal summons of evidence will help launch invited contributions in the UK and internationally, shape the committee's recommendations and address the most pressing challenges in AI regulation.
Professor Hughes said: “Healthcare AI can have significant benefits to patients, but it needs to be regulated carefully.
“When developing AI use in healthcare, we need to listen to the patient's views and make sure its use is safe and fair.”
