On 6 October, Reuters reported that the UK government will accept all 44 recommendations from a report on the approval of AI-based medical tools.
AI medical devices will require continual monitoring after approval rather than a single safety check before use, Lawrence Tallon, chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, told Reuters. Tallon said the change reflects the use of algorithms that can evolve and adapt while doctors are using them.
The MHRA will begin accepting applications for the third phase of its AI Airlock programme, focused on surveillance and lifecycle monitoring after devices enter clinical practice.
The government expects to publish a draft implementation plan by the end of 2026. The government commits to issuing a full plan by spring 2027, specifying delivery goals and schedules for each change across the NHS.
