A National Commission has been launched to accelerate the safe and effective adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across healthcare. The Commission will advise on a new regulatory framework – described as a “rulebook” for AI in healthcare – scheduled for implementation in 2026.
“This Commission will ensure the UK leads the way in making these game-changing technologies available in the safest possible way, helping more of us to lead healthy, longer lives and supporting our NHS,” commented Liz Kendall, science and technology secretary.
Formally titled the UK National Commission on the Regulation of AI in Healthcare, the Commission will make recommendations to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to help ensure AI tools remain safe, effective and reliable as the technology evolves and external factors influence performance.
The MHRA has identified regulatory uncertainty as a barrier to wider adoption of AI in the NHS. While tools such as “ambient voice technology” and AI assistants are already being trialled to streamline administrative tasks, uptake remains limited. Proponents argue these technologies could free up clinicians’ time to focus more directly on patient care.
The Commission will also examine the use of AI in clinical practice, with radiology and pathology among its priority areas. AI is already being deployed in acute stroke units across England, where it is used to interpret and analyse brain scans. In addition, the AI Diagnostic Fund has enabled nearly half of NHS hospital trusts to adopt AI-supported diagnostic pathways. According to the MHRA, hospitals that have implemented these tools have recorded a 42% reduction in diagnostic errors.
“This Commission marks a vital step in ensuring the UK leads the way in responsible innovation, and in accelerating the availability of AI technologies that can support better health for everyone,” said Alastair Denniston, head of the UK’s Centre of Excellence in Regulatory Science in AI & Digital Health (CERSI-AI).
Denniston, also a practising NHS clinician, will chair the Commission, with Henrietta Hughes, patient safety commissioner, as deputy chair.
The Commission will draw input from healthcare professionals, technologists, patient advocacy groups and big tech representatives, including experts from Google and Microsoft. The Health Foundation, an independent charity dedicated to improving healthcare in the UK, will act as the Commission’s research partner. A call for evidence has already been issued ahead of the Commission’s formal launch.
Lawrence Tallon, Chief Executive of the MHRA, said: “It is crucial that AI regulation maintains patient safety and public confidence. By bringing together leading voices in healthcare, technology and patient safety, this Commission will help establish the UK as a global leader in responsible AI healthcare regulation.
“The MHRA will act on the recommendations of the Commission to support the NHS’s digital transformation and advance the UK’s ambition to become a global hub for health tech investment,” he added.