100m boost for NHS innovation
pharmafile | October 8, 2007 | News story | |Â Â Â
A new body has been set up to promote innovation across the NHS and pharmaceutical products will form a key part of its work.
The Health Innovation Council will also help develop and deploy new medical devices and diagnostics and was one of the central recommendations from health minister Lord Darzi's interim review of the NHS.
"I want to see the UK become a world-leader in pharmaceutical and medical technology research and development, so NHS patients have access to the best innovative treatments and services," he said.
The Innovation Council will have a £100 million budget, with half of the funding coming from medical research charity the Wellcome Trust and the rest from the Department of Health.
It will focus five areas as they relate to the NHS: pharmaceuticals, other medical technologies, clinical practice, delivery models of service and management.
A number of key NHS decision-makers have agreed to sit on the Health Innovation Council and they will provide leadership and advocacy on the benefits of adopting cost-effective new technologies and models of care, Lord Darzi said.
They include Sir Mike Rawlins, chair of NICE, Professor John Bell, chair of the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research and Professor Bernard Crump, chief executive of the NHS Institute of Innovation and Improvement.
Andrew Witty, GSK's European pharmaceuticals president and chief executive designate, will join them and industry associations the ABPI and BIA gave the initiative and Lord Darzi's report a measured welcome.
Director General of the ABPI Dr Richard Barker said:" It is essential that, if Lord Darzi's recommendations are to be fulfilled, the environment in the UK remains stable and welcoming for innovative industries such as ours that have made Britain a global leader in world-class research."
Lord Darzi's interim report on the Our NHS, Our Future review also recommended more GP practices for the 25% of PCTs with the poorest provision, new measures to tackle hospital superbug MRSA and a £100 million fund to support NHS innovation.
The government has moved immediately on some of these, announcing more than 100 new GP practices and resources for PCTs to set up 150 GP-run health centres. These will be situated in easily accessible locations and open seven days a week to offer GP treatment and walk-in services.
