Health Minister: Mistrust of Palantir (learn more) Driving NHS Patients to Opt Out of Data Sharing
A letter to MPs reveals a significant rise in patients opting out of data sharing with the NHS, specifically citing public mistrust of Palantir as a factor. According to James Frith, the UK minister responsible for health innovation, roughly 60,000 opt-outs have occurred in just four months, ahead of a decision on the future of the Federated Data Platform.
Key Points:
- The letter, dated 21 August, was addressed to Layla Moran, chair of the Commons Health and Social Care Committee.
- The rise in opt-outs (from around 20,000 when the platform launched to 60,000 in four months) is attributed to increased media coverage rather than direct actions by the program.
- In 2021, the national opt-out rate for GP Data for Planning and Research was 5%, compared to the current rate of approximately 0.1%.
- Frith emphasizes that the NHS retains ownership of the intellectual property within the platform, allowing for potential migration away from Palantir.
- The letter follows a July report from the Health and Social Care Committee calling for the government to drop the Palantir contract and find an alternative by spring 2027.
For more details, refer to the full [letter](link to original letter if available).