Virtual surgery platform Proximie partners with Vodafone Business

London-based healthtech platform Proximie, has announced a partnership with Vodafone Business to increase access to surgical healthcare and training.

Proximie’s technology allows healthcare to virtually ’scrub-in’, record, and interact with any connected operating room in the world.

The collaboration will bring Proximie’s connected surgical care software together with technologies from Vodafone Business, including 5G, IoT and edge computing.  

Dr Nadine Hachach-Haram, Proximie founder and CEO, said: “Building on our existing relationship will accelerate the roll-out of our platform in the UK and across Europe. We will be able to provide connected surgical care to a wider audience and continue delivering impact by sharing the best clinical practice and ultimately saving lives.”

Benshi.ai uses AI to boost public health research in Ethiopia

Global non-profit benshi.ai is using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to boost public health research outcomes in Ethiopia.

The organisation, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI).

It will be working on capacity building for EPHI researchers in AI and using AI tools to generate research and evidence on public health nutrition issues.

Dr África Periáñez, benshi.ai CEO and founder, said: “By combining our AI expertise with EPHI’s knowledge on the ground, we look forward to bringing a new level of data-driven understanding for individual, population, and public health in Ethiopia.”

Tech accelerator calls for gut health startups in the EMEA region

Tech accelerator Founders Factory is calling on startups to apply to its Future Leaders of Gut Health initiative.

Innovators in the EMEA region have the chance to pitch for up to $250k investment, as well as receiving mentorship, operational support, and industry networking opportunities from Founders Factory and the Johnson & Johnson family of companies. Applications are open until 15 February

The call for gut health leaders comes as recent statistics show that the global digestive health market is expected to reach almost $72bn by 2027.

Isabella Chick, Founders Factory chief strategy, said: “As a long-standing investor and accelerator in health and wellness, we know there’s an exciting opportunity for tech solutions to transform the gut health market.”

ORCHA offers independent DTAC assessments for digital health suppliers

The Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA) has announced it can now carry out independent assessments against the Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC) for health and social care.

Digital health suppliers and innovators will be guided through the DTAC process, which is the UK’s new national baseline criteria for digital health technologies entering into the NHS and social care.

Once successful, ORCHA provides certification recognised by NHS trusts, so suppliers can invest their time into product development, partnership working with NHS customers and achieving outcomes.

Software firm Loftware acquires PRISYM ID

Global software firm Loftware Inc has announced the purchase of PRISYM ID, a provider of regulated content and label management solutions focused on clinical trials, medical device and pharmaceutical labelling.

The acquisition expands Loftware’s enterprise labelling solution offerings for the medical device and pharma industries and adds clinical trial labelling and regulated content management capabilities to Loftware’s end-to-end cloud-based labelling platform.

Robert O’Connor Jr, Loftware president and CEO, said: “This acquisition builds on Loftware and PRISYM ID’s experience and unites the best talent in the medical device and pharmaceutical labelling industry today.”