Health NZ launches AI Foundations platform

Health NZ has launched a national AI capability designed to provide a controlled environment for testing and evaluating AI tools for potential use across the health system.

Health NZ HealthX director Sonny Taite told Pulse+IT that AI Foundations was now live as part of the organisation’s HealthX innovation programme.

“We can confirm we have established AI Foundations – a shared capability designed to provide a secure and trusted environment for exploring, testing, and evaluating AI-enabled health solutions,” Mr Taite said.

The platform is hosted on Amazon Web Services under Health NZ’s existing AWS Master Services Agreement.

Mr Taite said no separate procurement process was required to access the AI models.

AI Foundations currently supports selected frontier models hosted within Health NZ’s controlled environment, with the platform designed to accommodate additional approved models in future.

Mr Taite said organisational information and data were not shared with third parties.

The capability includes reusable infrastructure, privacy and security controls, monitoring and assurance processes intended to support future approved AI initiatives across Health NZ.

“The purpose of AI Foundations is to provide a consistent national approach to evaluating AI solutions, reducing duplication, and allowing approved teams to test and assess potential use cases within a secure and controlled environment,” Mr Taite said.

Potential applications include access to knowledge and clinical decision support, AI-assisted workflows aimed at reducing administrative burden and future AI-enabled services supporting healthcare delivery.

Health NZ expects potential use cases to be explored over the next three to six months.

Mr Taite said decisions on wider implementation would be based on evidence relating to safety, privacy, security, equity, clinical value and operational readiness.

“AI is intended to support health professionals, not replace them, and clinical decisions will continue to be made by qualified healthcare professionals,” he said.