Norway invests in improving global regulation of Artificial Intelligence use in health care
Press Release
SUMMARY
Geneva, Switzerland, 26 June 2024 - HealthAI - the Global Agency for Responsible AI in Health, together with the Norwegian Government, announced today a critical investment in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) to build capacity to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) in health.
The partnership includes NOK 45 million grant investment in HealthAI's 3-year strategy. This plan aims to build local capacity to implement global standards for regulating AI in health responsibly while building global networks.
“AI should be a public digital common good. Better regulation is essential to promote secure and ethical AI solutions. Within global health, AI provides a tremendous potential to increase access to health care, improve treatment, and overall play a role in strengthening health systems. Ensuring access to responsible AI solutions for low- and middle-income countries is essential to counteract the digital divide,” said Minister of International Development, Anne Beathe Kristiansen Tvinnereim.
Artificial Intelligence holds transformative potential for health systems in LMICs, promising to reduce healthcare costs, enhance the expertise and capabilities of healthcare professionals, and empower individuals and communities. It can be especially beneficial in regions facing a shortage of medical specialists. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, AI could reduce healthcare costs in emerging markets by up to 25% while improving outcomes.
“AI has the potential to save lives across Low and Middle-Income Countries by transforming healthcare—from improving diagnostics to supporting mental health” says Ricardo Baptista Leite, CEO of HealthAI. "However, to truly harness this potential, policymakers must prioritize robust regulatory frameworks to ensure these transformative technologies are deployed responsibly and equitably. Norway’s support will enable HealthAI to empower local experts to do just this.”
The grant will contribute towards the implementation of HealthAI’s 3-year strategic plan, which includes:
Building and Certifying National & Regional Regulatory Mechanisms: Strengthening the ability of LMICs to apply global regulatory standards and enhance their governance capabilities.
Establishing a Global Regulatory Network: Facilitating knowledge exchange and monitoring adverse events in AI health applications, ensuring quick and effective responses to emerging challenges.
Creating a Global Public Registry of Validated AI Solutions: Providing transparent access to approved AI technologies, enhancing trust and accessibility.
Delivering Advisory Support: Offering expert guidance on AI policies and regulations to ensure comprehensive and context-specific regulatory frameworks.
As a first step, HealthAI is launching a Community of Practice to exchange implementation good practices, generate/share evidence, as well as inform, and create cohesion in regulation across countries. This effort will accelerate and guide the momentum being built by many global health organizations, private sector companies, and academic institutions to provide technical and ethical standards, and other guidance in this space.
For further details on HealthAI’s three-year strategy, please visit its website.
About HealthAI:
Based in Geneva, HealthAI is dedicated to integrating AI responsibly into global health systems. It works with governments and many others in the health innovation sector to strengthen the governance and regulation of AI to build trust, advance equity, and deliver on the potential of emerging technologies.
Media contact information:
HealthAI: Anna Brezhneva, contact@healthai.agency, +41 22 552 00 34
Norway: Helene Sandbu Ryeng, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, helene.sandbu.ryeng@mfa.no, +47 99 40 67 30
