#22. W/c 10th February '25
Alastair Allen
Partner, Head of Healthcare Technology at EY | Board Member at openEHR UK | Health and Social Care Council Member at TechUK
This week in my newsletter:
? Oracle take aim at Epic claiming "Wizards will not modernise health care and Wikipedia pages do not edit themselves"
? Northern Ireland prepare for a new Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health
? Apple announce a new research study to advance the understanding of health and well-being
? The Guardian argue that the NHS’s problems go deeper than the boss
? The AI Action Summit announce a €200m fund for AI but fail to get support from the UK and US
? Is 2025 the year AI will steal your job?
Wizards will not modernise health care and Wikipedia pages do not edit themselves
Oracle's Executive Vice President, Ken Glueck, criticises Epic in a detailed and negative article, alleging a covert smear campaign led by Epic’s CEO, Judy Faulkner, against Oracle's Seema Verma. Oracle claims that instead of focusing on innovation in electronic health records and interoperability, Epic has prioritised its public image and allegedly manipulated Wikipedia pages to undermine Ms Verma's reputation.
Glueck's article attempts to draw connections between the two organisations, alluding to a history of rivalry and differences in approach towards interoperability. Despite these allegations, openly criticising your competition in such a manner is rarely the best strategy. IMO focusing on Oracle's achievements and innovations would present a more positive and constructive narrative.
Northern Ireland Health Minister Welcomes Interim Permanent Secretary Appointment
NI Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has welcomed Mike Farrar's appointment as the interim Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health. Farrar will step into the role this April, succeeding Peter May, who is retiring from the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Nesbitt praised Farrar’s extensive leadership experience within the UK health service, highlighting its significance as Northern Ireland addresses substantial health and social care challenges.
Minister Nesbitt also paid tribute to the outgoing Peter May, lauding him for his wisdom, integrity, and leadership during testing times for the health and social care system. Nesbitt praised May as a diligent and talented public servant who has contributed significantly not only to Health but across various Executive Departments and as part of the Permanent Secretaries group.
Read more: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/health-minister-welcomes-interim-permanent-secretary-appointment
New holistic Apple Health Study launches today in the Research app
Apple has launched a new holistic Apple Health Study via its Research app, in collaboration with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, aimed at advancing the understanding of health and wellbeing through technology. This study, utilising Apple devices such as the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, seeks to explore how technology can predict, detect, and manage various health conditions by examining connections between different health areas. For instance, it will investigate how mental health impacts heart rate or how sleep affects exercise.
This longitudinal, virtual study builds on previous Apple studies like the Apple Women’s Health Study, and aims to gather insights across a wide range of health areas, including cardiovascular, cognitive, metabolic, and mental health among others. Participants in the U.S. can choose to share their data with researchers and can withdraw at any time, ensuring privacy by allowing them to control what information is shared.
Let's hope this initiative delivers more value than the recently released Apple Intelligence, which I have found to be an utter disappointment.
NHS problems go deeper than the boss
This editorial highlights deeper issues within the NHS beyond its leadership. MPs have criticised the NHS's lack of "drive" and "ideas" in response to a report from the public accounts committee, which coincided with NHS England's chief executive Amanda Pritchard’s appearance before the health and social care committee. While Ms Pritchard is not at imminent risk of losing her position, the criticism she faces underscores tensions within NHS England. This scrutiny is compounded by structural changes, as the NHS is still adapting to a new framework involving 42 integrated care boards, and budget constraints affect operational flexibility.
Financial pressures persist, with most budget increases absorbed by salary, national insurance rises, inflation, and costs associated with an ageing population. Political pressure continues to mount, with the government eager for progress and a determined health secretary overseeing the situation. Recent statistics from the Office for National Statistics contradict NHS England's claims on productivity, adding to the complexity faced by officials.
The situation is further complicated by the appointment of a new permanent secretary and a new chair for NHS England, potentially reducing the autonomy that the organisation once had. Additionally, integrated care boards are in a tug-of-war with hospital trusts for influence and resources, putting Ms Pritchard in a challenging position.
EU launches InvestAI initiative to mobilise €200 billion of investment in artificial intelligence
The EU has introduced the InvestAI initiative, an effort to mobilise €200 billion in investment towards AI. Announced at the AI Action Summit in Paris by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the initiative includes a dedicated €20 billion European fund targeted at AI gigafactories. These extensive AI infrastructures are intended to support the open and collaborative development of complex AI models, aiming to position Europe as a leader in AI.
President von der Leyen highlighted the potential of AI to enhance healthcare, spur innovation, and boost competitiveness, underscoring the EU's strategy of openness, cooperation, and nurturing top talent. However, she acknowledged the need to accelerate these efforts through significant investment and collaboration under the InvestAI scheme.
While the AI Summit’s statement of principles (the communiqué) was signed by 61 countries, the US and the UK didn't sign it, depending global splits over AI.? The US objected to “inclusive and sustainable” language, with JD Vance going on to express concerns that over-regulation will deter innovators from taking necessary risks.? The UK said it wasn’t in “the UK’s national interests”.
‘The frog is boiling’: is 2025 when AI finally comes for your job?
The article discusses the growing impact of AI on employment, speculating that 2025 could be a pivotal year for job displacement due to AI advances. High-profile tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg and Marc Benioff are preparing for these changes. Zuckerberg is planning to reduce 5% of Meta's 72,000 workforce, while Benioff, the head of Salesforce, intends to lay off 1,000 employees and halt new engineer hirings.
This shift reflects the increasing capability of AI agents, which are anticipated to rival human coders within the year. The situation exemplifies a broader trend in the tech industry, highlighted by Google's suggestion for 20,000 employees in its Android and Pixel units to "voluntarily exit" amid the AI boom.
I do believe the rise of AI agents will be a net-positive in healthcare, but rather than agents replacing health and care professionals (HCPs) they will become a crucial assistant, helping to reduce the increasing administrative burden that HCPs are forced to deal with with.
Read more: https://apple.news/AFF7kb8McTlq1vI86j822yQ
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1 周I hope that AI wouldn't steel my job - it's pretty hard as it is...
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1 周Great insights Alastair, debate around AI’s role in healthcare modernization is fascinating, especially as interoperability remains a major roadblock. The discussion on Oracle vs. Epic highlights a critical point—should industry leaders focus on competitive narratives or real innovation that drives patient outcomes? Also, the growing role of AI in automating administrative tasks for HCPs is promising, but we need a balanced approach that ensures AI supports rather than replaces human expertise. Excited to see how these trends evolve, particularly with the EU’s €200bn InvestAI initiative shaping the future landscape.Looking forward to hearing more of your perspectives!