The launch of Scotland’s new AI strategy represents ‘a challenging crossroads for healthcare decision-makers,’ insists a leading innovation agency

Unveiled in Edinburgh last week by the Scottish Government, the five-year strategy is intended “to harness the potential of AI to drive responsible and inclusive growth across our economy and make a positive difference at every level of society”.

Business Minister Richard Lochhead called AI “the great disruptor” which could add £23 billion to Scotland’s economy by 2035. He said it would “help save lives” and “reform our public services”.

He urged moving quickly and “investing in new skills to protect jobs”.

However, the launch also heard Chief Data Officer at NHS National Services Scotland, Albert King sound a note of caution around the complexity of integrating AI into the NHS, with much to balance including assurances around data protection and the meeting of regulatory requirements.

Innovation agency InnoScot Health believes AI already has many proven healthcare benefits but insists there may still be a long way to go before it can be formally adopted at pace across NHS Scotland.

Executive Chair Graham Watson said: “We certainly share enthusiasm for the Scottish Government’s new strategy and recognise the need to collaboratively accelerate AI ambitions in healthcare where possible — but also must pay heed to Mr King’s sentiments.

“There have been undoubted success stories such as NHS Grampian’s GEMINI project for advanced breast cancer screening and, as the strategy notes, AI is accelerating drug discovery and enhancing HealthTech development while also speeding up diagnoses.

“At the same time, if we take Scottish healthcare as a whole, it has been something of a tentative dipping of toes in the AI water up to this point, and rightfully so amid the need for trustworthy, ethical, and inclusive adoption.

“Quite simply, there must be absolute assurance that safety nets are in place to protect patients in what remains often unmapped territory for healthcare with lingering unknowns. There is also the issue of attempting to apply AI consistency to fragmented digital infrastructure.

“The new strategy’s shift from exploration to implementation therefore brings a lot of issues into sharp focus and represents a true crossroads for Scotland’s healthcare decision-makers.

“If we are to move from pilots to real-world deployment, while balancing the need for ensuring robust governance and securing public confidence, then it will be a significant challenge.

“There is huge promise, but it must be delivered correctly and, most importantly, safely.”

At the strategy’s launch, Mr King stated: “Ultimately, populations, our public services are crying out for improvement, and it’s not good enough to sit on our hands and not to deliver that.”

“And you know, it’s important, obviously, that we move with care, but it’s important that we also move at pace, so that we do secure these benefits.”

While noting the opportunity for deeper collaboration between NHS and industry, and encouraging closer relationships between innovators and public services, he emphasised the need for careful stewardship over NHS data.

Mr King added: “There’s some unglamorous stuff we need to do to make it easier to get some of those fantastic innovations from the SMEs that some of them are delivering. I see them every day and it’s about how do we get those actually into our public services.”

The InnoScot Health team offers skilled regulatory experts, dispensing advice and support to healthcare innovators across Scotland, while facilitating and underlining the country’s reputation as a centre of excellence for medical device innovation.