UK leads global effort to regulate AI in healthcare

The UK has taken a major step onto the international stage by becoming the first country to join a new worldwide network of regulators dedicated to overseeing the safe use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has signed up as a founding “Pioneer” member of the HealthAI Global Regulatory Network. The initiative aims to bring trusted AI tools into hospitals and clinics more quickly, while ensuring strict safety and ethical standards are upheld.

A trusted global partner

The move is set to strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in health technology regulation, while also cementing its role as a trusted partner in international collaboration. With AI increasingly seen as key to cutting NHS waiting times, improving early diagnosis and boosting the UK’s growing health technology sector, this development could have wide-ranging impacts for patients and industry alike.

Through the network, the MHRA will share early safety alerts, monitor how AI performs in real-world healthcare settings, and help set international standards. Other countries are expected to join in the coming months, creating a platform for global cooperation that has not existed before.

Innovation rooted in the UK

The UK’s contribution to the new network builds on its own pioneering work in the field. The MHRA’s “AI Airlock”, an internationally recognised regulatory sandbox, allows developers to test AI medical devices in a controlled environment before they are used across the NHS.

Projects already in the pipeline include AI models to help GPs detect lung conditions sooner, as well as tools designed to personalise cancer care. This work is supported by updated guidance and ongoing reforms to medical device regulation, with the MHRA adapting to fast-moving fields such as generative and adaptive AI.

Closer to home, the West Midlands’ strong record in life sciences and health innovation means the region is well placed to benefit from the UK’s leadership role. With world-class universities, major NHS trusts and a growing health technology sector, the region stands to play a central role in developing and applying the next generation of AI tools.

Formal signing in Westminster

A formal signing ceremony took place in Westminster to mark the UK’s entry into the network, attended by Science Minister Lord Vallance, MHRA Chief Executive Lawrence Tallon and Dr Ricardo Baptista Leite, CEO of HealthAI.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting welcomed the UK’s leadership in this area, saying: “Cutting-edge technology will be crucial to transforming patient care and NHS efficiency,” emphasising that global cooperation will help unlock AI’s potential without compromising safety.

Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle added that the UK is “breaking down unnecessary regulatory barriers” so that trusted AI tools can reach patients faster, improving outcomes while also supporting wider economic growth.

Cementing leadership in healthcare AI

As AI continues to reshape healthcare around the world, the UK’s position as a founding member of the HealthAI Global Regulatory Network marks an important milestone. For regions such as the West Midlands, with their thriving life sciences and medical technology sectors, it opens the door to new opportunities for innovation, investment and patient benefit.