Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek's latest venture, the Neko Body Scan, aims to revolutionise healthcare by offering a comprehensive full-body scan for £299. The scan, which takes minutes, uses high-resolution photography, thermal imaging, and cardiovascular measurements to assess health risks. It also measures grip strength and eye pressure, and takes a blood sample for analysis.
The data is processed by artificial intelligence and reviewed by an in-house GP, who delivers results within 15 minutes. Neko's co-founder Hjalmar Nilsonne emphasised the importance of preventive care, noting that 70% of healthcare costs are tied to chronic diseases that are largely preventable with early intervention.
In its first year in Stockholm, Neko scanned 2,707 people aged 22 to 75. Of these, 14% required further medical attention for conditions they were unaware of, and 1% received potentially life-saving interventions for issues like aortic aneurysms and malignant melanomas. One patient had surgery within two weeks after a scan detected a cardiovascular anomaly.
Professor Louise Thomas of the University of Westminster acknowledged the potential of such scans for early diagnosis but stressed the need for transparency about methodology and training data. Professor Azeem Majeed, a GP and public health expert, cautioned about potential harms like overdiagnosis and anxiety, and questioned the cost-effectiveness compared to NHS services.
