WHO Releases Guidelines on Regulating AI
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new publication listing key regulatory considerations on artificial intelligence (AI) for health. The publication emphasizes the importance of establishing AI systems’ safety and effectiveness, rapidly making appropriate systems available to those who need them, and fostering dialogue among stakeholders, including developers, regulators, manufacturers, health workers, and patients.
With the increasing availability of health care data and the rapid progress in analytic techniques, whether machine learning, logic-based or statistical, AI tools could transform the health sector. WHO recognizes the potential of AI in enhancing health outcomes by strengthening clinical trials; improving medical diagnosis, treatment, self-care, and person-centered care; and supplementing health care professionals’ knowledge, skills, and competencies. For example, AI could be beneficial in settings with a lack of medical specialists, eg, in interpreting retinal scans and radiology images, among others.
However, AI technologies are being rapidly deployed, sometimes without a full understanding of how they may perform, which could either benefit or harm end-users, including health-care professionals and patients. When using health data, AI systems could have access to sensitive personal information, necessitating robust legal and regulatory frameworks for safeguarding privacy, security, and integrity, which this publication aims to help set up and maintain.
US Trained DOs Gain International Recognition
The International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA) recently approved a resolution to support the recognition of US-trained DOs as fully licensed physicians equivalent to MDs in 47 IAMRA member countries during its 15th biennial Members General Assembly in Bali, Indonesia.
The resolution was jointly submitted by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the Oregon Medical Board, and seconded by the Association of Medical Councils of Africa, whose 20 member countries passed a similar resolution in 2019.
This historic achievement follows years of advocacy from AOA leadership and international department staff. AOA President Ira Monka, DO, AOA Past President Boyd Buser, DO, and AOA Vice President of State and International Affairs, Raine Richards, JD, were on hand to shepherd the resolution through its final passage in Bali. National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners President and CEO, John Gimpel, DO, and board chair Richard LaBaere, DO, also participated in support.
“We anticipate that DOs wishing to care for patients in IAMRA member countries will now have a more streamlined process to secure licensure and practice rights,” said Dr. Monka. “The resolution also paves the way for the rest of the world to develop a greater understanding of the osteopathic medical model and its potential to help solve access to care issues and empower patients to take a leading role in advancing and ensuring their own health.”
Humayun “Hank” Chaudhry, DO, CEO of the FSMB and Secretary and Past Chair of the IAMRA Board of Directors (the first DO to hold the position), played a key role in advancing the resolution.
“This is a historic milestone in the advancement of the osteopathic medical profession around the globe,” Dr. Chaudhry said. “The resolution's passing is a significant win for osteopathic medicine.”
Source: https://osteopathic.org/2023/11/08/u-s-trained-dos-gain-global-recognition/
Telemedicine Flexibilities Extended
The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) received more than 38,000 comments on its proposed telemedicine rules and recently held 2 days of public listening sessions related to those rules. They continue to carefully consider the input received and are working to promulgate a final set of telemedicine regulations by the fall 2024, giving patients and medical practitioners time to plan for, and adapt to, the new rules once issued.
Accordingly, DEA, jointly with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has extended current telemedicine flexibilities through December 31, 2024. The extension, entitled “Second Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications,” was submitted to the Federal Register jointly with HHS on September 29, 2023, and is available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/10/10/2023-22406/second-temporary-extension-of-covid-19-telemedicine-flexibilities-for-prescription-of-controlled
