RCR welcomes expert commission's blueprint for healthcare AI regulation
Today, Thursday 10th September 2026, an independent expert commission has published its blueprint for the regulation of AI in healthcare with the aim of accelerating the safe adoption of AI so that UK patients can benefit from its advances.
The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) is proud to have supported the development of this blueprint through its involvement in the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare.
The Commission found broad public support for AI when used to improve healthcare, but only with strong safety standards, human oversight, and transparency about when AI is used. Its blueprint recommends:
Faster access to safe and effective AI
Continuous, real-world monitoring throughout the lifecycle of AI-enabled medical devices
Public access to safety information
Tougher powers to protect patients
The government and the MHRA will now consider the commission's recommendations.
Responding to the blueprint, Dr Stephen Harden, President of the RCR, said:
Radiologists and clinical oncologists are at the forefront of healthcare AI, but gaps in the regulatory framework have meant we have not yet seen it fulfil its significant potential.
This Commission has come at exactly the right moment. The AI landscape is only getting more complex, and so we are proud to have contributed to this important work. We are particularly pleased to see specific support for monitoring of AI-enabled medical devices once they are in use; getting this right will give doctors confidence to use AI tools, while protecting patient safety.
We urge the Government and the MHRA to put these important recommendations into practice without delay. At the Royal College of Radiologists, we will also play our part, including by supporting doctors’ training in AI, and influencing national policy.
Notes to editors
Media contact: [email protected] 02038054065
The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) is the leading professional membership body for clinical radiologists and clinical oncologists
Clinical radiologists are specialist doctors who use imaging to diagnose, monitor and treat diseases and injuries
Clinical oncologists are specialist doctors who manage cancer and prescribe radiotherapy and drug-based treatments
The National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare was established by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in September 2025 and led by NHS doctors.
Read the RCR’s response to the MHRA consultation on the regulation of AI in healthcare: Regulating the use of AI in healthcare: The Royal College of Radiologists' Position
Read more about the RCR’s work: AI in the NHS: public attitudes and policy priorities