Fujitsu lands a deal in AI healthcare, Andalucia. Credit: TK Kurikawa, viraltrendingcontent
Fujitsu, the company behind the UK Post Office’s notorious Horizon IT system, has secured a major contract to develop artificial intelligence (AI) software for Andalucia’s healthcare system.
The Japanese tech giant, blamed for one of Britain’s worst miscarriages of justice, will also open an AI research lab in the southern Spanish region as part of efforts to digitise public health services.
Post Office Horizon scandal casts long shadow on Fujitsu
The deal comes despite Fujitsu’s central role in the UK Post Office scandal, where its Horizon accounting software led to more than 700 subpostmasters being wrongfully convicted of fraud, theft, and false accounting. The flawed system produced false financial shortfalls, causing devastating consequences for those accused – many lost their jobs, homes, and reputations, with some even serving prison sentences before their names were cleared.
A British parliamentary inquiry heavily criticised Fujitsu for failing to address the errors and take responsibility sooner. The company has since apologised and pledged compensation, but victims say the process has been slow and inadequate.
News of the Andalucia contract has reignited anger and sparked concerns about Fujitsu’s suitability for handling sensitive healthcare data.
Alan Bates, founder of the Justice for Subpostmasters campaign, told The Guardian, “Fujitsu’s involvement in public services should raise alarms. They’ve caused immense harm here in the UK, and yet they seem to be moving forward with little accountability. Spain needs to proceed with caution.”
Digital health expert Dr Peter Bradley also warned of risks, stating, “Fujitsu’s history with the Horizon system raises legitimate concerns about its ability to handle critical data like medical records. Trust is essential in healthcare, and given their past failures, there are serious questions about whether they are the right fit for this kind of work.” (El Decano)
Fujitsu maintains that the Horizon software errors were unintentional and says lessons have been learned. The company insists its current systems meet the “highest standards of accuracy and security” and argues that AI has huge potential to improve disease diagnosis and efficiency within healthcare.
For Andalucia, the deal marks a bold move towards modernising its health service. Yet, given Fujitsu’s chequered past, critics argue Spain may be taking a major gamble by entrusting patient records and medical data to a company that’s still majorly doubted.
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