FOSTERING AI INNOVATION IN SWEDISH HEALTHCARE: Essential Factors for an Enabling Policy Environment

Abstract

Amidst the rapid technological advancements in AI, a growing number of proponents emphasize its significant potential in revolutionizing healthcare. However, the highly regulated nature of the healthcare sector poses numerous regulatory challenges at various stages of AI development and deployment. Despite regulations traditionally serving as governing and controlling mechanisms across various sectors including healthcare, they also possess the potential to play a crucial enabling role in fostering innovation. The aim of this study is to identify the essential areas of such a conducive regulatory landscape which enables the AI development within Swedish healthcare. Following a thorough review of contemporary literature in the subject area, we have identified five initial areas of policies which provided the base for the creation of the conceptual model of the study. The study followed the qualitative analysis realm of research and data were collected through a set of systematic interviews with expert stakeholders in the healthcare sector. The data collected through the interviews was analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six step thematic analysis, a process which was instrumental in deriving the findings. As for the outcome of the study, we have iden-tified six essential policy areas for a conducive policy environment in Swedish healthcare for enabling AI innovation. These six areas are Data sharing and Open data initiatives, Data Ownership and Access Control, Data Quality, Standards and Interoperability, Regulatory Experimentation and Knowledge. The thesis urges leg-islators to carefully consider these identified policy areas, thereby introducing new reforms and modifying existing regulations to promote AI innovation in Swedish healthcare.