Palantir, the US data analytics firm with ties to the military and intelligence agencies, is reportedly the frontrunner to secure a £480 million contract to manage patient data for the NHS in England. The seven-year deal would see the company provide a 'federated data platform' to connect IT systems across health and social care, aiming to improve patient outcomes and reduce waiting times.
The contract has sparked controversy due to Palantir's founder Peter Thiel's past criticism of the NHS, which he likened to 'Stockholm syndrome' and called for privatisation. However, CEO Alex Karp has distanced himself from those remarks, praising the NHS's care for the underserved. During the pandemic, Palantir's software was used to track vaccine rollout, and it has since helped Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust reduce waiting lists by a quarter.
Critics, including campaign group medConfidential, have raised concerns about transparency and data privacy. Sam Smith of medConfidential said: 'Patients should know how data about them is used... No patient should ever have to consider not telling their doctor something vital for their care out of fear the NHS will share those most sensitive of details somewhere they shouldn't.'
The NHS has emphasised that the supplier will operate under its instruction and will not control or access patient data for its own purposes. Safeguards are in place to prevent any single supplier from dominating NHS data management. Rival bids from British firm Quantexa and US tech giant Oracle are also under consideration.
Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty has argued that failing to share patient data can hinder treatment and be dangerous. The decision is expected by mid-October.
