Palantir Wins £330m Contract to Manage NHS Data Platform Amid Privacy Concerns

The new Federated Data Platform could potentially treat an extra 25,000 patients monthly, but the deal has sparked controversy due to data privacy concerns.

Palantir Technologies, a US tech giant, has been awarded a seven-year contract worth £330m ($415m) by the UK's National Health Service (NHS) to manage a software system across the health service.
The new Federated Data Platform will consolidate real-time data such as bed numbers, staff rotas, waiting list information, and availability of medical supplies and social care places.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins stated that the platform could help reduce waiting lists and improve patient care, potentially treating an extra 25,000 patients monthly if changes were mirrored across the country.
Despite the potential benefits, the deal has sparked controversy due to concerns about data privacy and the handling of sensitive information by Palantir, a company known for its links with the US military.
The NHS has stressed that no company involved in the Federated Data Platform will be able to access any health and care data without explicit permission from the NHS.