Based on input from the sector, meetings with Prioritization Committee (NUIT)and the National Council for eHealth (in the National council model for eHealth) and the work of the AI Council, the following main direction is recommended for the joint AI plan for 2024-2025:
Support the needs of the primary and specialist healthcare service
The measures in the plan must support the needs of municipalities and health authorities. Involving patients and healthcare professionals in the development and implementation of AI solutions will help to ensure that relevant areas are selected for the use of AI.
Medically appropriate, ethical and safe use
The medically appropriate, ethical and safe use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the health and care services will be critical in ensuring trust in the use of AI among those who work in the health and care service and among citizens, patients and next of kin. AI has the potential to significantly improve healthcare, yet the failure or misuse of AI technologies could have grave consequences for patient health and safety. Ethical use will ensure that the technologies are used in a way that protects the rights and welfare of patients. It will for example be important to detect and prevent bias in AI systems. Algorithms can unintentionally learn and reinforce existing instances of bias from the data they are trained on, which in turn can lead to unfair treatment outcomes for certain groups of patients. The medically appropriate, ethical and safe use of AI is also necessary to promote innovation responsibly.
Greater use of AI
The AI plan emphasises measures that could facilitate the introduction of and increase clinical AI use. Clinical AI use is often associated with risks and will therefore necessitate risk mitigation measures to ensure safe use.
However, there is considerable potential as regards the use of AI to perform administrative functions. Examples of this include documentation, reporting, rota planning, help with text summarisation and generation, planning and logistics. Such low-risk applications can offer substantial benefits and can often be implemented quickly. Consideration must also be given to such AI use and relevant initiatives launched to help overcome many of the challenges that exist in the health and care services.
To bring about the widespread use of AI in the healthcare sector, we must recognise that the mechanisms of adoption will differ depending on the context and application. Unlike smaller clinics and municipal services, large hospitals often have better access to resources and advanced infrastructure. It is important to develop tailored procedures for implementation that address these differences, and ensure that all healthcare services have access to the necessary support and guidance.
Use of commercial AI products
Procurement and the adoption of commercial AI products are assumed to be the fastest way of deploying and extracting AI benefits in the healthcare service. Norway has also set out its ambitions to research AI and develop commercial AI products for the healthcare sector. This plan will place less emphasis on research and development of AI products.
Calculate and realise gains
The health and care services must be able to calculate and realise benefits. Emphasis is placed on measures that clarify and highlight gains, for example by facilitating learning from others, including other social sectors and other countries.
Increase competence
Increased competence concerning digital transformation using AI is an important prerequisite for achieving the necessary trust and adopting the most appropriate solutions. This applies to managers, employees in the health and care services, and citizens and patients.
European cooperation
The EU already has significant guidelines in place concerning AI through its strategies, legislation, programs and funding programmes. Facilitating European and Nordic cooperation will be important in enabling Norwegian environments to adapt, contribute to relevant work, and benefit from experiences and resources in the EU and the Nordic countries.
Clear authorities
From the government’s perspective, clear frameworks, common guidelines, guidance, guides, standards and expertise will be important in building trust and facilitating the safe and effective use of AI in the health and care services.