The Doctors\u2019 Association UK (DAUK) has welcomed the publication of a major Parliamentary report which raises significant concerns about the growing role of Palantir in public services and the NHS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cross-party Science, Innovation and Technology Committee warns that the UK\u2019s increasing reliance on Palantir has created an \u2018unacceptable point of weakness\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It highlights concerns around value for money, transparency, public trust, and the long-term strategic risks of entrusting critical public infrastructure to a single overseas technology provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report, titled Rewiring the state: delivering digital government<\/a>, recommends that the Government \u2018should commit to exercising the 2027 break clause in the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) contract\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It goes on to recommend the Government \u2018either develops an in-house replacement or seek an alternative developed by UK-owned and UK-based providers that are more compatible with UK values, and do not pursue either technical or contractual dependencies\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report called for a fully-costed exit plan for the FDP by the end of this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr David Nicholl, DAUK committee member, said: \u201cThis is an excellent report and highlights the warnings that DAUK has been making for more than five years, that Palantir\u2019s FDP provides poor value for money from a company with ethical values that are a million miles away from those of the NHS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Government should publish an exit plan, and look at alternative providers that can deliver better outcomes for patients at less cost, safely, securely and ethically.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n DAUK has consistently raised concerns<\/a> about the award of the \u00a3330 million FDP contract to Palantir. These include the risk of NHS dependency on a single supplier, uncertainty about long-term value for money, questions around transparency in procurement, and the impact of Palantir\u2019s wider activities on public trust in NHS data systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Steve Taylor, DAUK GP co-lead, added: \u201cThere is a growing consensus that Palantir should not be anywhere near public services, and in particular patient data in the NHS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDAUK and other groups have been saying this for years, yet governments have continued to ignore the warnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMinisters are public servants first, they need to heed the warnings and use the break clause in 2027. Influence is being bought against the best interests of the public.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nPoor value for money<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ignored warnings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n