“Healthcare organisations need reliable AI”

Healthcare organisations lack overview

“Europe has important regulatory and assessment mechanisms. However, healthcare organisations still lack a practical, comparable overview of which AI solutions are clinically validated, safe reliable, and ready for use in practice” says Markiewicz-Barreaux. “Healthcare organisations have to assess this themselves. But often, they lack that expertise.”

This creates challenges for healthcare organisations, she believes. “The pace of innovation and marketing in AI can sometimes move faster than independent evidence and and the extent to which the technology is ready for deployment. Healthcare organisations therefore need better tools to distinguish well-validated solutions from those that are still at an earlier stage of development,” she explains. “In healthcare, AI can influence clinical workflows and decision-making. That is why we must carefully assess quality, safety and reliability.”

Less hype, more oversight

Valiant Health develops a European platform that helps healthcare organisations, health insurers, policymakers and AI developers navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in healthcare. The platform brings together information on clinical validation, safety, fairness, regulatory status, Health Technology Assessment (HTA) reviews and readiness for reimbursement. This enables stakeholders to make better-informed decisions about responsible adoption of AI.

“We want to help healthcare organisations select AI systems that are trustworthy, come with robust safeguards, and offer a clear path to their safe and responsible implementation within the healthcare sector,” says Markiewicz-Barreaux. According to her, that trust is essential. “Without that trust, healthcare organisations will be reluctant to adopt AI, even if it can offer real added value.”

At the same time, healthcare systems are under increasing pressure due to rising demand, staff shortages, and the need for more efficient care delivery. Markiewicz-Barreaux: “AI can help by reducing administrative burdens and supporting faster, more consistent diagnoses and treatments. In the longer term, AI could even enable a shift from reactive to more proactive and preventive healthcare.”

Support for strategy and growth

During the development of Valiant Health, the company received support from EEN. Through the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, Dr Markiewicz-Barreaux and Prof. Casado-Arroyo came into contact with dr. Tjwan Tan, an advisor from the Enterprise Europe Network who helped them develop their business and strategy. “He asked critical questions, for example about our business model. Who is our target audience? And what value do we offer the customer? He also highlighted opportunities for grants and partnerships in Europe.”

That support helped the company to stay focused during the start-up phase. “As a start-up, there’s a lot to take in. So it’s valuable when someone with a fresh perspective contributes ideas and helps to stay on track.”

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