Former NHSX director of artificial intelligence (AI), Indra Joshi is reported to have joined US data analytics giant Palantir Technologies.

Joshi quit the role on 31 March 2022, writing on LinkedIn: “After five rewarding years at NHS England and setting up the NHS AI Lab, it's time to take a break before moving on to my next challenge.”

During her time at NHSX she directed NHS AI Lab, a £250m investment aiming to enable the development and deployment of ethical and effective AI-driven technologies into the UK health and care system.

Palantir confirmed that Joshi would be working with its customers “to help improve their operations and transform their businesses.”

WHY IT MATTERS

Joshi’s appointment has raised concerns about a conflict of interest, as it coincides with NHS England’s procurement of a federated data platform (FDP) contract, which Palantir is competing for. 

NHSE recently published a prior information notice on the FDP for potential suppliers, which estimated its procurement value at £240 million. The platform is planned to be “an ecosystem of technologies and services” and ‘’essential enabler to transformational improvements across the NHS”.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

Palantir is currently working with the NHS to tackle elective care lists., under the NHS data store contract. Its Foundry operating system began roll-out across 30 hospital trusts in March, following a pilot at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Trust.

The firm worked with NHSE, alongside Microsoft and Amazon to develop a data platform informing the COVID-19 response. However privacy organisations raised concerns about Palantir’s involvement, due to the company’s past provision of espionage tools and work with the US immigration service on tracking migrants.

The UK government released the contracts in June 2020 after openDemocracy and tech-justice firm Foxglove sent legal letters demanding transparency about the agreements.

Last year tech-justice firm Foxglove issued a lawsuit on behalf of openDemocracy over the £23.5 million NHS data deal with Palantir.

ON THE RECORD

A Palantir spokesperson said: “We are delighted that Indra has agreed to join the team, which we are aiming to grow by 250 in the UK this year. Indra has extensive experience of cutting-edge technologies and their real-world application. She has helped lead standards and best practice in data and AI governance with both the UK and international bodies. 

“Indra will work with Palantir’s many customers to help improve their operations and transform their businesses. We are proud of the work we have done with NHS over the last two years in response to the COVID-19 crisis, which included helping to power the NHS' COVID-19 vaccination programme."

An NHS spokesperson said: “All our employees are contractually required to follow strict post-employment restrictions, which includes them not being permitted for six months to lobby or influence for a new employer.”

Jim Killock Executive Director of the Privacy and Digital Rights organisation, the Open Rights Group, said: “The revolving door between the NHS and Palantir is very worrying. Palantir has shown itself to not be a trustworthy company, and the NHS should not be relying on them as a supplier. Palantir’s ambitions as shown by its recruitment of this senior NHS executive are deeply worrying.”