Portugal becomes first EU state to join HealthAI network

Portugal has become the first European Union member state to join HealthAI's Global Regulatory Network (GRN), as Europe prepares to implement new rules governing artificial intelligence across the bloc.

The agreement between Portugal's healthcare regulator Infarmed and Geneva-based non-profit HealthAI gives the country access to a directory of regulator-reviewed AI health tools, along with a real-time warning system for sharing reports of harmful incidents.

Portugal joins Britain, India, Brazil, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Zambia and Peru in the network, which promotes international cooperation on AI governance in healthcare.

AI Act drives closer international cooperation

The move comes as the EU's AI Act begins taking effect and healthcare systems accelerate the adoption of AI-powered technologies.

"This is clearly better achieved through international cooperation and by sharing experiences and expertise," Infarmed President Santos Ivo said in a statement.

HealthAI, funded mainly by governments including Canada, Britain, Norway and Singapore, was established to develop common standards and governance frameworks for AI in healthcare.

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Europe expected to shape global AI rules

HealthAI Chief Executive Baptista Leite said the organisation is in talks with other EU member states and argued that Europe's regulatory decisions will have a global impact.

"Whatever Europe will do will have a spillover effect in other regions around the world. It's incredibly important that Brussels gets it right," he said.

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