Department of Health – Abu Dhabi launches AI Clinician Framework

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has introduced a world-first AI Clinician Framework to regulate the research and operation of artificial intelligence systems capable of performing clinical activities. Announced at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit by Chairman Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori and Undersecretary Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, the framework establishes how these systems may eventually be authorized to perform tasks that typically require a licensed clinician.

The framework mandates that an AI system's competence be assessed based on its specific clinical scope, with broader roles requiring more rigorous evidence. Key safeguards include mandatory physician oversight, accountability, and protocols for referring patients to human doctors when necessary. This regulatory foundation aims to enable responsible research while prioritizing patient safety.

In a separate development, the DoH concluded its inaugural life sciences trade mission to China. The mission included meetings in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen to foster collaboration in artificial intelligence, precision medicine, and advanced therapies. The delegation sought to link China's manufacturing and scientific capabilities with Abu Dhabi's clinical infrastructure and genomics data.