Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: RIH Expert Presents Russia’s Vision at BRICS Technical Meeting

BRICS countries play a strategic role in the global digital transformation of healthcare. With highly integrated health systems and strong innovation potential, they contribute to advancements in service delivery, health systems management, epidemiological surveillance, pharmaceutical development, and public health policy evaluation.

The discussion highlighted the importance of:

• Data governance and interoperability: Ensuring secure integration and ethical use of health data;
• AI-based diagnostics and telemedicine: Expanding access to medical services;
• Ethical regulation: Promoting transparency and data protection in AI adoption.

A unified vision of digital health could serve as a strategic foundation for BRICS cooperation on AI, enabling a coordinated, multisectoral approach.

Experts from the Russian Research Institute of Health (RIH) took part in a BRICS technical meeting on artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, organized by the Ministry of Health of Brazil. Representing the Russian delegation, Maria Shevchenko delivered a keynote presentation highlighting Russia’s strategic priorities, achievements, and approaches to AI integration in national healthcare systems.

In her remarks, Ms. Shevchenko emphasized that in Russia, AI is not seen merely as a technological innovation, but as a structural enabler to improve clinical outcomes, expand access to care, and enhance system-wide efficiency and resilience.

Over the past decade, the Russian Federation has established a strong foundation for digital transformation in healthcare:

• Over 1.4 billion structured electronic medical records were registered between 2019 and 2024;
• National infrastructure connects most healthcare facilities through the Unified State Health Information System (USHIS);
• AI implementation is guided by detailed legal and ethical frameworks, including Government Decree No. 140, Presidential Decree No. 490, and the National Strategy for AI Development.

Russia has introduced more than 30 AI-specific standards in healthcare, including the landmark State Standard O 59277-2020, and launched a pioneering Code of Ethics for AI in Medicine, the first of its kind globally.

To ensure effective and accountable implementation, the Ministry of Health launched the national monitoring program "Incident No. 11: AI Technology Deployment", along with guidelines for AI adoption at the regional level. By 2030, each Russian region is expected to implement at least 12 certified AI medical solutions.

Ms. Shevchenko also highlighted Russia’s use of Experimental Legal Regimes (ELRs) — regulatory sandboxes that allow for pilot testing of AI technologies in real-world settings, such as diagnostics and clinical decision support, before national rollout.

The BRICS+ dialogue reaffirmed the shared commitment of member countries to lead the global conversation on responsible and inclusive AI in healthcare. BRICS+ is viewd as a powerful platform for building a patient-centered, technology-enabled, and ethically grounded future in global health.