Health, Sanitation & Nutrition

To ensure the safe use of robots in healthcare, several key regulations are needed. Here are some essential areas to consider:

1. Safety Standards

• FDA and CE Marking: Regulatory bodies like MoHFW, NMC, CDSCO should establish clear guidelines for the approval of healthcare robots, covering clinical trials, safety testing, and post-market surveillance.
• Risk Assessment Protocols: Robots must undergo rigorous risk assessments to identify potential hazards to patients and healthcare provider

1. Human Oversight and Liability

• Human-in-the-Loop Systems: Regulations should mandate that robots, especially in critical applications like surgery or diagnostics, are supervised by healthcare professionals to avoid any unchecked decisions.
• Accountability and Liability: Clear legal frameworks must define who is liable for errors involving robots (e.g., the healthcare provider, the robot manufacturer, or the software developer) to ensure accountability in case of malfunction.

1. Data Privacy and Security

• Compliance with Data Protection Laws: Healthcare robots, which often handle sensitive patient data, must have acknowledgement of the laws such digital information security in healthcare (DISHA), DPDP act, 2023.
• Cybersecurity Protocols:  cybersecurity measures are necessary to prevent hacking or data breaches. This includes encryption, secure software updates, and real-time monitoring for threats.

1. Ethical Guidelines

• Informed Consent: Patients should be informed and a proper consent should be given before interacting them with robots, particularly if robots are involved in treatment decisions or personal care.
• Bias and Discrimination: Healthcare robots are free from biases that could negatively affect patient care.

By setting all these rule the industries can set a good standard with the robots in the healthcare industry with beneficial result for patient care.