Mahama calls for stronger health regulation to meet tech challenges

President John Dramani Mahama urged African nations to bolster their health sector regulations to safeguard patients amidst the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, telemedicine, and cross-border healthcare.

Speaking at the 28th Annual Scientific Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) in Accra, Mahama emphasized that health regulation must evolve alongside emerging technologies and changing patient needs. He cautioned that expanding healthcare access without robust safety and quality standards could endanger lives.

"Regulation is, therefore, not a bureaucratic obstacle. It is public protection, patient safety and the foundation of confidence in healthcare," Mahama stated. He highlighted the growing risks associated with digital health, citing an instance in Ghana where a digital medical records provider disrupted services after demanding additional payments. This incident, he noted, raised critical questions about data ownership, reliance on technology vendors, and service continuity.

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Regulation is, therefore, not a bureaucratic obstacle. It is public protection, patient safety and the foundation of confidence in healthcare.

The president also questioned accountability when health professionals treat patients across borders via telemedicine or when AI influences medical decisions. He called for stringent regulations to protect health data and prevent fraud, unlawful advertising, and unsafe practices on digital platforms. Mahama stressed that AI should augment professional judgment, not replace human responsibility, and warned against AI systems trained on data that inadequately represents African patients, which could lead to inaccurate diagnoses.

Furthermore, Mahama advocated for increased collaboration among African health regulators to combat fake qualifications and professional impersonation. He stressed the importance of sharing verified information to prevent sanctioned practitioners from relocating and continuing their practice in other African nations. "No country should become a refuge for a practitioner sanctioned elsewhere," he declared.

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No country should become a refuge for a practitioner sanctioned elsewhere.