NTT DATA has been selected to spearhead the development of ATHINA (Advanced Technology for Health Intelligence and Action IT System), an innovative intelligence system aimed at harnessing public health and supply chain data to enhance pandemic prevention efforts.
The ATHINA platform will expedite access to vital information and action-oriented insights regarding potential global health threats, enabling proactive measures to be taken to not only address health emergencies, but also predict and prevent them.
In collaboration with the European Health Agency (HaDEA) and the European Health Emergency Response Authority (HERA), NTT Data will oversee the consortium responsible for creating the platform. This cutting-edge system will monitor, analyze, and prioritize threats while identifying available countermeasures and providing response options.
Supported by European funding, the ATHINA project will draw on the expertise of over 50,000 skilled employees over an initial three-year period, with a strategic investment of 20 million euros within the EU4Health program – the largest of the EU health initiatives.
Additionally, the EU4Health program will finance a four-year initiative to fortify health information systems and enhance health data governance, including the establishment of a Health Information Network to facilitate collaborative decision-making and knowledge exchange among participating countries.
The ATHINA project represents a significant leap towards strengthening preparedness and response efforts for health emergencies, bolstering Europe’s capacity to swiftly prevent, detect, and address serious cross-border health threats.
Esther Saavedra, EC health account manager at NTT DATA, expressed enthusiasm about leading the ATHINA project, highlighting the potential of technology to bolster Europe’s readiness in addressing health challenges and emphasizing the contribution of the project to the creation of a more robust and united European Health Union.
