Dubai Health Authority develops policy for use of AI in healthcare

The Informatics and Smart Health Department at the Dubai Health Authority has launched the first Artificial Intelligence Policy for healthcare in Dubai. It aims to determine the regulatory requirements for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare.

It will also determine the ethical requirements for AI solutions as well as define the main roles and responsibilities of stakeholders involved in the development of it for use in healthcare.

The policy has an in-depth legislative and regulatory framework and aims to enhance the interaction, communication and cooperation between government health agencies, the private sector and the scientific community to accelerate the applications of AI in healthcare.

The scope of this policy extends to include all AI solutions related to healthcare services used by medical facilities, specialists, drug manufacturers, health insurance companies, public health centres and researchers within the jurisdiction of the Dubai Health Authority.

Dr. Mohammad Al Redha, Director of Health Informatics and Smart Health Department at DHA said that AI in healthcare includes the use of AI-operated robots to perform surgery faster and assist surgeons and it also includes the use of AI to analyse health information from a large set of data, according to state-run news agency WAM.

Dr Al Redha explained that AI is more about the ability to think and analyze data, than it is to a perform a specific function.

“Artificial intelligence is a cornerstone in the growth plans of the health sector in the UAE, especially as it offers broad prospects for the development of current sectors, in addition to paving the way for a large and new set of business models and innovative technologies,” said Dr Al Redha.

Dr. Mahira Abdel Rahman, Information and Smart Health Policy Officer at the DHA added: “The policy has been formulated according to best clinical practices and emerging research. The policy mandates that all AI solutions for healthcare comply with the international and federal information laws, regulations and guidelines of the UAE and Dubai, especially with regard to human values, patient privacy, people’s rights and professional ethics, in the long and short term.”

She added that the policy also focusses on the need for AI healthcare solutions to be safe, secure and subject to supervision and monitoring to ensure technology is used to empower the health sector and patients.

Four years ago, the UAE launched a new strategy for AI, as part of the UAE Centennial 2071 objectives and was the first country in the world to appoint an AI minister.