National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare
The National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare is an expert, non-statutory advisory body established by the MHRA to review current regulations and provide recommendations for a new regulatory framework for AI in healthcare.
Purpose of the National AI Commission
Launched by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on 26 September 2025, the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare brought together global AI leaders, clinicians and regulators.
The National AI Commission was established to advise government on a future regulatory framework for AI in healthcare. It considered not only the regulation of safe and effective software and AI-enabled medical devices but also wider issues such as accountability, transparency, clinical practice, organisational governance and system-wide level assurance.
The mission of the National AI Commission was to help ensure that patients can benefit from safe and effective AI technologies, support the government’s ambition to make the NHS the most AI-enabled healthcare system in the world, and establish a globally competitive regulatory environment that attracts investment and supports innovation.
Recommendations of the National AI Commission
On 10 September 2026, the National AI Commission published their report Recommendations for a future regulatory framework. The report is accompanied by an Easy Read version and a Welsh translation of the executive summary.
The Commission’s central conclusion is that the regulation and assurance of AI in healthcare must become more proportionate, lifecycle-based and system-wide.
A cross-government response will follow separately, setting out how government and system partners will consider and take forward the recommendations.
Engagement programme
The work of the National Commission was informed by a UK-wide research and engagement programme, led by the MHRA, which aims to ensure a broad range of views are heard and considered.
As part of this programme, the MHRA ran an open Call for Evidence from December 2025 to February 2026.
Alongside the Call for Evidence, the work of the Commission was also supported by on-going targeted engagement to ensure that patient groups, healthcare professionals, and industry could contribute in more depth.
The MHRA worked in partnership with The Health Foundation to deliver a programme of public deliberation sessions, and with National Voices to support targeted engagement with seldom engaged groups. A structured clinical engagement programme was also being with healthcare leaders.
The Reports of the research and engagement and Call for Evidence are published online.
What we have heard through this work is helping to shape the Commission’s next steps, including opportunities to respond directly to questions from the public.
Through our engagement programme, the National AI Commission heard from patients, the public and people with lived experience about what matters most when it comes to AI in healthcare.
Watch the Ask Me Anything session
In June 2026 a Ask Me Anything webinar provided an opportunity for patients, carers, members of the public and wider stakeholders to hear directly from the Commission, explore key themes emerging from the research and engagement activity, and ask questions about the future regulation of AI in healthcare.
Watch the recording of the Ask Me Anything session to hear the discussion, and learn more about the Commission’s work and the issues that matter most to patients and the public.
National AI Commission – Ask me Anything
Working groups
The Commission was supported by Working Groups that bring together specialist insight from across government, the health and care system, industry, and partners across the four nations. A list of organisations represented is available here .
The four working groups are:
- Cross Whitehall Working Group: Chaired by Lawrence Tallon, Chief Executive of the MHRA. This group identified opportunities for policy alignment and operational collaboration across central government departments to ensure unified delivery.
- Devolved Authorities Working Group: Chaired by Professor Catherine Sudlow, Director of the Usher Institute at the University of Edinburgh and Director of the UKRI Adolescent Health Study and Generation Scotland. This group engaged with governments health authorities across the four nations (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales) to reflect regional perspectives and ensure coherence with national frameworks .
- Health Systems Working Group: Chaired by Professor Henrietta Hughes, Patient Safety Commissioner for England and former National Guardian for the NHS. This group examined the integration, resilience, and performance of health and regulatory systems in relation to the Commission’s priorities.
- Technology Working Group: Chaired by Professor Neil Lawrence, DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge and a leading UK expert in AI and probabilistic modelling. This group led on identifying, evaluating, and advising on the state of the art and upcoming frontier technologies – including their experience and interactions with regulation – to support the Commission’s strategic objectives.
Publications and news
- Independent Commission led by NHS doctors sets out blueprint to accelerate safe AI adoption in healthcare
- National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare: research, engagement and call for evidence findings
- MHRA landmark report reveals public views on AI in healthcare
- Call for evidence: Regulation of AI in Healthcare
- National AI Commission: Ask Me Anything
- New Commission to help accelerate NHS use of AI
- Lawrence Tallon: New Commission to help accelerate NHS use of AI
Communications from members
- Blog: Shaping the future of healthcare - Professor Henrietta Hughes
- Blog: AI and the Moral Work of General Practice - Our Health Partnership
- Editorial. You have until Monday to help influence the NHS’s use of AI: Lawrence Tallon, Alastair Denniston and Dr Henrietta Hughes.
- Blog: Between Innovation and Integrity: Reflections from the National Commission on AI in Healthcare - Dr Vish Ratnasuriya MBE, Chair of Our Health Partnership.
- Blog: AI in health care – staying ahead of the issues. Dr Jennifer Dixon DBE, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation.
- Video: Will AI replace my doctor? The Lancet. With Professor Alastair Denniston.
- Blog: Putting Patient Safety at the Heart of Regulatory Innovation. Professor Henrietta Hughes.
- Blog: Professor Alastair Denniston: The future regulation of AI in healthcare.
Membership
Chaired by Professor Alastair Denniston, practising NHS clinician and head of the UK’s Centre of Excellence in Regulatory Science in AI & Digital Health (CERSI-AI), with the deputy chair as the Patient Safety Commissioner Professor Henrietta Hughes, the group will guide the MHRA on how cutting-edge AI technologies can be safely and effectively integrated into everyday healthcare.
Members of National Commission on the Regulation of AI in Healthcare
Professor Alastair Denniston, Professor of Regulatory Science and Innovation at the University of Birmingham, Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, and Executive Director of the UK Centre of Excellence for Regulatory Science in AI & Digital Health (CERSI-AI).
Professor Henrietta Hughes OBE, Patient Safety Commissioner for England. Responsible for promoting the safety of patients with regard to the use of medicines and medical devices, and to promote the importance of the views of patients and other members of the public in relation to the safety of medicines and medical devices. A practising GP and Visiting Professor at the Institute of Medicine, University of Greater Manchester.
Professor Neil Lawrence, DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge and Chief Scientist at Trent AI. A leading expert in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science with particular focus on healthcare applications.
Professor Cathie Sudlow OBE, Director of the Usher Institute at the University of Edinburgh and Director of the UKRI Adolescent Health Study and Generation Scotland. Leads large-scale population health research studies and epidemiological research.
Brian Anderson, CEO of the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI), a collaborative organisation working to advance the responsible adoption of AI in healthcare. Has extensive experience in health technology leadership and digital health innovation.
Dr Ricardo Baptista Leite, CEO of HealthAI, the Global Agency for Responsible AI in Health. A medical doctor and researcher specialising in the ethical implementation of artificial intelligence in healthcare systems globally.
Adj Prof (Dr) Raymond Chua, Chief Executive Officer, Health Sciences Authority; Deputy Director-General of Health (Health Regulation), Ministry of Health, Singapore.
Dame Jennifer Dixon, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation, one of the UK’s leading health policy think tanks. Has extensive experience in health policy analysis and research, focusing on healthcare quality, efficiency, and system reform.
Dr Paul Goldsmith, Non-Executive Director MHRA; Chair, MHRA’s Regulatory and Safety Committee; visiting Professor, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London; Consultant Neurologist, Clinical Senate and 25 years working in life sciences.
Dr Vish Ratnasuriya MBE, practising GP, Chair of Our Health Partnership, co-founder of Primary Care Accelerator, and Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham. Focuses on primary care innovation and digital health transformation.
Dr Gabriella Spinelli, Director of the RADIANT-CERSI Centre for Regulatory Science & Innovation in Digital Health & Healthcare AI at Brunel University of London. Specialises in regulatory science for digital health technologies and AI in healthcare.
Barry Stein, Chief Clinical Innovation Officer and Chief Medical Informatics Officer for Hartford HealthCare, leading digital transformation and AI implementation across one of America’s largest healthcare systems.
Richard Stubbs, Chief Executive of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, leading regional health innovation initiatives and partnerships between the NHS, academia, and industry to improve patient outcomes through technology and innovation.
Professor Richard Susskind CBE KC, President of the Society for Computers and Law, Special Envoy for Justice and AI to the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, and leading authority on the impact of AI on the future of the professions.
Meetings: summary minutes
The National Commission held monthly meetings during the creation of their recommendations. A summary of the key points discussed by the core group at these meetings will be published here.
Summary minutes: first meeting of National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare (15 October 2025) (PDF, 171 KB, 2 pages)
Summary Minutes: Second meeting of the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare (20 November 2025) (PDF, 121 KB, 2 pages)
Summary minutes: Third meeting of the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare (15 December 2025) (PDF, 136 KB, 3 pages)