On July 15, 2026, Portugal officially became the first European Union member state to join the Global Regulatory Network (GRN) of HealthAI, a Geneva-based non-profit dedicated to overseeing the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
The agreement was signed between Infarmed (Portugal’s National Authority of Medicines and Health Products) and HealthAI.
Key Benefits:
As a member of the network, Portugal gains exclusive access to a global directory of regulator-reviewed AI-powered health solutions, peer learning opportunities, technical advisory support, and a real-time warning system to share and track adverse events and harmful incidents involving AI tools.
The agreement between Portugal’s healthcare regulator and HealthAI gives Portugal access to a directory of regulator-reviewed AI health tools as well as a real-time warning system for sharing reports of harmful incidents.
The EU’s AI Act is taking effect as health systems across Europe accelerate the adoption of AI-powered tools.
“This is clearly better achieved through international cooperation and by sharing experiences and expertise,” Infarmed President Santos Ivo said in a statement.
Global Impact:
HealthAI was set up to develop common standards and governance frameworks for AI in healthcare.
Witn this new partnership Portugal partners with an international cohort of countries that are already part of the GRN, including Britain, Brazil, India, Singapore, Peru, Zambia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
The move comes as European states prepare for the full implementation of the EU AI Act, which entered into force in August 2024.
Joining the network helps Portugal establish robust validation mechanisms to ensure healthcare AI tools comply with ethical, safe, and regulatory frameworks.
