Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the ability of machines or systems to mimic human intelligence and perform tasks at a scale that exceeds what humans are capable of. In health and social care, AI can be used to support decision making, stream administrative tasks, enhance diagnostics and reduce errors thus potentially improving the standard of care to people using services. Proactive measures are required in order to leverage the benefits of AI and to use it in a responsible and safe way, for example, by building the knowledge, capabilities and capacity of staff across the health and social care sector. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has been requested by the Department of Health to develop a national framework to promote and drive the responsible and safe use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health and social care services to ensure safer, better care for people using health and social care services.

A system-wide approach to supporting the responsible and safe use of AI in health and social care is needed and the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) are developing separate but interlinked programmes of work, in line with their organisational remits. The Department of Health, the HSE and HIQA, are working together to prepare and ensure that the health and social care sector is ready for forthcoming policy and legislative requirements for AI.

As an independent statutory body established to promote safety and quality in the provision of health and social care services, HIQA has a responsibility to develop standards, recommendations and guidance to support the Irish digital health and health information landscape to ensure safer, better care for people using health and social care services. As requested by the Department of Health, HIQA is developing a national framework to promote and drive the responsible and safe use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health and social care services in Ireland. This evidence-informed framework will be used to promote awareness and build good practice among service providers and staff about the responsible and safe use of AI in health and social care services. All services and organisations that provide health and social care services can use this framework to develop and embed good practice to ensure safer better care.

This framework will also be of use to people using services by educating and empowering them on what their expectations should be, in respect of the responsible and safe use of AI while engaging with health and social care services.