From News Desk

HealthAI – The Global Agency for Responsible AI in Health, welcomes Portugal as the first European Union Member State to formally join the HealthAI Global Regulatory Network (GRN). It’s a global platform uniting health regulators dedicated to safe, effective and equitable deployment of AI in health systems.

This marks a historic milestone for Portugal as the first EU nation to join this prestigious global collaborative network as a pioneer. The agreement, formalised at a signing ceremony held on the sidelines of the WHO Global Conference on AI for Health in Lisbon. It was in the presence of the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins; and the Minister for State Reform, Gonçalo Matias. The agreement was signed by the president of the Portuguese National Authority of Medicines and Healthcare Products (INFARMED), Professor Rui Santos Ivo and Dr Ricardo Baptista Leite, CEO, HealthAI.

“Portugal becoming the first member state of the European Union to join HealthAI’s Global Regulatory Network represents a pivotal moment, not only for HealthAI, but for the future of equitable and responsible AI governance in health globally. As a pioneer in ethical and human-centric development and adoption of AI for Health within the European Union, Portugal brings exceptional expertise, proven regulatory frameworks, and a genuine commitment to ensuring that AI serves all populations fairly, while maintaining the highest standards of safety, data sovereignty, and ethical governance,” said Dr Ricardo Baptista Leite, CEO, HealthAI.

“Infarmed aims to be a leading regulatory authority in the field of digital and AI-based technologies. This is clearly better achieved through international cooperation and by sharing experiences and expertise. We are looking forward to join the Global Regulatory Network,” said Professor Rui Santos Ivo, President of INFARMED.”

Portugal joins the GRN at a defining moment for European AI governance. As the European Union’s AI Act enters into full effect and health systems across the continent accelerate the integration of AI-powered tools, Portugal’s early engagement signals a clear ambition: to lead Europe’s contribution to global AI health governance rather than simply respond to it.

Joining the GRN will enable Portuguese health officials to engage in peer exchange and strategic dialogue with counterparts from other member countries. This shall include the United Kingdom, Singapore, India, Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Zambia, the Philippines and Peru.