The regulatory pathway for artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies in health and social care can be slow, complex and difficult to navigate.
Information can be hard to find and difficult to understand. For researchers this means wasted time and effort, and delays to research projects.
Take a look at the Artificial Intelligence and Digital Regulations Service website
The Artificial Intelligence and Digital Regulations Service website has been designed to give advice and information on regulations for developers and adopters.
The site is currently in public beta which means that we are still gathering feedback on the prototype of the website.
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Regulations Service
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Regulations Service provides advice and information on the development and adoption of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in health and social care.
The aim of the service is to bring the range of advice and support that exists together to create a simplified pathway for developers and adopters to follow.
There are two key parts to the service:
- information – on navigating through the regulatory pathways, including signposting to other advice services and resources
- advice – linked to the NHS Innovation Service to provide bespoke support and advice on complex enquiries
During the pilot phase of developing the service we referred to the project as the Multi-Agency Advisory Service (MAAS).
Who is involved in the AI and Digital Regulations Service?
The AI and Digital Regulations Service is a partnership between four national bodies:
- Health Research Authority (HRA)
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
- Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
Each organisation brings vital expertise to the service, including product regulation (MHRA), data and research governance (HRA), clinical and cost effectiveness (NICE) and regulation (CQC).
The project is overseen and funded by the NHS Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (NHS AI Lab).
How can AI and Digital Regulations Service help?
There are two groups that we think will benefit most from AI and Digital Regulations Service:
- developers – also known as manufacturers, take technologies from an idea to a market-ready product
- adopters – can buy, deploy, or use the technology in a health or social care setting
To make it easier to find the right information we have created specific pathways for developers and adopters to help you find advice and support quickly.
These simplified pathways focus on what you need to do, when you need to do it and how to get started.
Get in touch
If you would like to find out more about the AI and Digital Regulations Service you can contact the team by emailing ai.advice@nice.org.uk