# Global Regulatory Frameworks for the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Healthcare Services Sector

## TL;DR

This paper examines global regulations for AI in healthcare, highlighting the need for updated frameworks to address AI's unique capabilities.

## Contribution

The paper proposes a global regulatory convergence for AI in healthcare to address gaps in current regulations.

## Key findings

- Current AI regulations focus on Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) and digital health products.
- AI systems can adapt and improve over time, which current regulations may not fully address.
- A global regulatory framework, like the US-EU AI code of conduct, could benefit all nations.

## Abstract

The healthcare sector is faced with challenges due to a shrinking healthcare workforce and a rise in chronic diseases that are worsening with demographic and epidemiological shifts. Digital health interventions that include artificial intelligence (AI) are being identified as some of the potential solutions to these challenges. The ultimate aim of these AI systems is to improve the patient’s health outcomes and satisfaction, the overall population’s health, and the well-being of healthcare professionals. The applications of AI in healthcare services are vast and are expected to assist, automate, and augment several healthcare services. Like any other emerging innovation, AI in healthcare also comes with its own risks and requires regulatory controls. A review of the literature was undertaken to study the existing regulatory landscape for AI in the healthcare services sector in developed nations. In the global regulatory landscape, most of the regulations for AI revolve around Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) and are regulated under digital health products. However, it is necessary to note that the current regulations may not suffice as AI-based technologies are capable of working autonomously, adapting their algorithms, and improving their performance over time based on the new real-world data that they have encountered. Hence, a global regulatory convergence for AI in healthcare, similar to the voluntary AI code of conduct that is being developed by the US-EU Trade and Technology Council, would be beneficial to all nations, be it developing or developed.