Global regulators highlight improvements in workforce data, education, and compassion for safer patient care

• Collaboration and innovation headline close of 16th International Conference on Medical Regulation in Dublin

Saturday 6th September 2025: The 16th International Conference on Medical Regulation closed today after four days of global debate and knowledge-sharing on the future of medical regulation. Hosted by the Medical Council of Ireland, the conference welcomed 460 international delegates from 37 countries.

Hearing from Leo Varadkar, former Taoiseach; Dr Austin O’Carroll, GP from inner-city Dublin, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam; Prof Dame Carrie MacEwen, Chair, General Medical Council; Prof Raymond Chua, CEO Health Sciences Authority, Singapore; and among other esteemed delegates; speakers addressed the most pressing issues facing medical regulation today. Delegates explored how regulation can be more compassionate in response to patients and the medical profession, how data is essential in informing the future of regulatory developments, including advancements in AI; and growing challenges facing a global health workforce.

Clear themes arose during the conference, with speakers, panel members, and presenters calling for action on the following topics:

1. Education and equity go hand-in-hand
Delegates highlighted the importance of training and recruiting doctors from underrepresented groups and training in marginalised communities. Medical education placements in rural areas, migrant communities, or prisons were cited as essential to tackling health inequalities, disparities in medical education and training, and improving population health. Speakers also stressed the need for better data on ethnicity and disability to track inequities, particularly among international medical graduates.

2. Smarter medical workforce planning depends on better data
Delegates agreed that minimum data standards across professions are essential to address both workforce shortages and maldistribution. Medical regulators must play a key role in collecting and sharing insights to guide health system planning, from national shortages to local community needs.

3. Mobility, migration, and ethical recruitment are global concerns
With health professionals moving more than ever, regulators called for greater international cooperation to support mobility while protecting countries most at risk of losing skilled doctors.

4. Innovation and trust must advance together
AI is no longer theoretical. Regulators at the conference highlighted proof of concept projects improving efficiency, fairness, and consistency. Despite this, fear of AI persists. Regulators must set out guidance in AI for doctors to build confidence and trust, while exploring pilot projects responsibly.

5. Compassion, inclusivity, and humility in regulation
Sessions on leadership and remediation emphasised that regulation must not dehumanise doctors. While public trust is paramount, speakers urged medical regulators to consider the stress of the complaints process and to learn openly from failures, as well as to recognise when second chances are appropriate.

Closing the conference on Saturday, Dr Suzanne Crowe, President of the Medical Council, said,

“Doctors enter medicine to make a difference. All over the world, doctors practise medicine in different ways, but we must do everything in our power to serve our common values as physicians, educators, and advocates.

“Our discussions this week have shown that medical regulation can’t stand still. The overarching need for strong collaboration is also clear. We must focus on shared outcomes, rather than shared processes, to achieve people-focused regulation. This means taking concrete steps that will make a real difference for doctors and patients. This is the spirit we must carry forward.”

The 16th International Conference on Medical Regulation is organised by the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA) and was hosted by the Medical Council of Ireland.

The 16th International Conference on Medical Regulation centred on the theme of ‘People-focused regulation for a safer global community’. It featured Ireland-based and international experts in medical regulation, research, public safety, and healthcare. Visit the conference website here.

The 17th International Conference on Medical Regulation will take place in Hong Kong in 2027.