The Department of Health begins the market consultation process for the development of AI-based solutions to provide information on medicines to the public

Within the framework of the Health/AI programme, the conditions of the market consultation concerning the AI in health challenge were presented on 12 July. The aim is to develop artificial intelligence-based solutions to provide information on medicines to the public. This event begins the process for public and private institutions to present their proposals.

Around fifty representatives of the business sector, tech experts and health professionals attended, together with Clara Pareja, the Director General of Health Planning and Regulation at the Department of Health; Joan Guanyabens, the Director of the TIC Salut Social Foundation; Antoni Gilabert, the Director of Innovation and Partnership at the Health and Social Consortium of Catalonia; Josep Maria Guiu, the Director of the Pharmacy and Medicine area of the Health and Social Consortium of Catalonia; Sussana Aussó, the Head of Artificial Intelligence at the TIC Salut Social Foundation and Ramon Maspons, the Technical Secretary of the Health/AI Programme and Strategic Director of the Departmental Innovation and Transformation Committee of the Innovation and Prospective Area at the Health Quality and Assessment Agency of Catalonia (AQuAS).

The medicine information challenge seeks to take advantage of the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence to create a truthful and reliable source providing appropriate information on medicines for the benefit of the public.

The benefits expected to result from this procurement process notably include providing citizens with a specific and validated source of information that complements the instructions of health professionals, enabling people to resolve doubts about medicines; expanding the knowledge of patients, citizens and carers about medicines and health to ensure their appropriate use; increasing the health system’s responsiveness in interacting with citizens; strengthening the health system’s relationship with the digital field; and increasing the health system’s ability to design precise interventions with the information gathered by the solution.

These solutions should promote adherence to pharmacological treatments, optimise results and prevent any adverse effects caused by lack of information.

The Health Quality and Assessment Agency of Catalonia will be the contracting body for this public procurement of innovation. It will be supported by the institutions represented in the Health/AI Programme, including the Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (CIAM) – Department of Health, Catalan Health Service, the TIC Salut Social Foundation, and the Health and Social Consortium of Catalonia throughout the process of obtaining the solution, which will be implemented in the Catalan health system.

The call for proposals is now open

Until 24 July, organisations or people interested in participating can send the necessary documentation stated in the conditions.

Based on the solutions proposed by companies and the bilateral interviews that will be held with the various participants, a report will be drawn up reaching conclusions on the degree of maturity of the market to develop a solution of these characteristics. It will also define any additional requirements and needs, which will be key aspects in defining the procurement. This report will be published on the procurement platform’s website at the end of September.

This report will be a supporting document for drafting of the tender documents.

View the market consultation conditions for the development of AI-based solutions to provide information on medicines to the public.

Virtual Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (CIAM)

In order to have a specific structure to develop and advance the design and application of AI solutions specific to the field of medicine that can be adopted by the health system, the Health/AI Programme is promoting the creation of the Virtual Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (CIAM). Participants include the Department of Health, the Catalan Health Service, the TIC Salut Social Foundation, the Health Quality and Assessment Agency and the Health and Social Consortium of Catalonia.

The CIAM will manage and coordinate projects and the deployment of AI solutions in the field of medicines. It will also receive proposals to produce and generate AI-based tools that contribute to the efficient use of medicines.

For more information on the medicines information AI challenge, visit the Health/AI Programme website.

Video of the event