Clalit Health Services to join European AI research project predicting, managing pandemics

Clalit Health Services has been selected to partner in PANDAI, a significant European Union research project leveraging artificial intelligence to predict and manage future pandemics. The initiative, funded by Horizon Europe with €8 million, aims to build an AI platform that connects healthcare systems across Europe. This will enable policymakers, epidemiologists, and public health authorities to identify and respond to outbreak signs more efficiently.

Clalit was chosen alongside other leading global health organizations, including the World Health Organization and the University of Oxford, with research groups from the UK, Spain, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Bangladesh also participating. This selection is particularly noteworthy amid domestic concerns about Israel's exclusion from international research frameworks, underscoring Clalit's standing as a global leader in community healthcare and medical research.

“

In the post-COVID era, we must be prepared for the possibility of another major global health event. At a time when international collaboration faces increasing challenges, this achievement demonstrates that the knowledge, research, and innovation developed by Clalit and the Israeli healthcare system continue to play an important role in the global effort to shape the future of medicine.

"In the post-COVID era, we must be prepared for the possibility of another major global health event," stated Prof. Eytan Wirtheim, CEO of Clalit Health Services. He emphasized that despite increasing challenges to international collaboration, Clalit's knowledge and innovation continue to contribute to global efforts in shaping the future of medicine.

The healthcare organization's selection was based not only on its extensive experience as a provider of community clinics and hospitals with advanced electronic medical records but also on its valuable data resources. Clalit played a crucial role in Israel's COVID-19 response, publishing early studies on vaccine effectiveness and safety that have influenced health policies worldwide. Prof. Doron Netzer, head of medicine at Clalit’s Community Division, called the participation "both a great honor and a major responsibility," highlighting Clalit's expertise in operating a healthcare system during uncertain times and global pandemics.

“

This is both a great honor and a major responsibility. One of the world’s leading research frameworks has recognized Clalit’s research capabilities, expertise, and experience in operating a healthcare system during periods of uncertainty and global pandemics. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that Israel’s community healthcare system, with Clalit at its forefront, serves as a critical first line of defense against emerging health threats.