Concerns over Palantir’s involvement with the NHS are growing, as recent figures reveal a significant rise in patients opting out of data sharing. Health Innovation Minister James Frith highlighted that this mistrust could hinder the NHS’s ability to conduct vital research, potentially impacting patient care and outcomes.
In just two months, around 60,000 patients withdrew their consent for their medical data to be used in research, a trend that coincides with increasing scrutiny of Palantir’s controversial history, including its ties to the Israeli military and past associations with US immigration enforcement. This has led to calls for the government to reconsider its £330 million contract with the company.
Frith noted that while the increase in opt-outs is modest, it poses a risk to the NHS’s long-term health strategy, which relies on comprehensive data sharing for effective planning and research. The government is now contemplating whether to enforce the use of Palantir’s technology across NHS trusts, a shift from previous mandates.
The implications of these decisions are profound; if patients continue to withdraw their data, the NHS may struggle to realise the benefits of its ten-year health plan, ultimately affecting healthcare delivery across the UK.
Source: The Guardian
