Morning, Thursday, 14th November 2024
Online
This conference will examine the future of AI in healthcare - looking at key issues for development, adoption and regulation.
It takes place with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care outlining the new Government’s plans to harness the power of AI technologies including in the NHS, initially with the rollout of AI-enabled diagnostic scanners.
The conference will bring 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.
Delegates will discuss 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 expect 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 comes 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 include 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.
The conference will also be an opportunity to assess how the Government’s planned Regulatory Innovation Office can best approach setting and monitoring targets for regulatory approval. Areas for discussion include managing responsibility and safety alongside a drive for innovation, international competitiveness and leadership in best practice, and providing clarity and increased certainty for industry.
We also expect 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 will be discussed, as well as issues relating to oversight and governance, intellectual property, responsibilities and liability, and evaluating impact.
Further sessions examine the adoption and application of AI in healthcare. Delegates will look at how equality in access to AI developments across the country can be achieved and next steps for addressing variation. They will assess 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 AI pilot projects for rollout across the NHS.
We are pleased to be able to include a keynote session with Russell Pearson, AI Regulatory Policy and Projects Lead, MHRA. Further senior participants are being approached, including in government and regulatory bodies.
All delegates will be 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. Those due to attend include officials from DHSC; DSIT; DBT; ONS; ICO; CQC; OLS; Dstl; DfE; DfT; and The Scottish Government.
