NHS eyes global business
pharmafile | March 26, 2010 | News story | | NHS, NHS funding
The NHS is set to explore new international opportunities and export its knowledge abroad through a new organisation.
It hopes NHS Global will follow in the footsteps of BBC Worldwide by giving a high profile UK institution an international profile, in the process generating a new revenue stream.
In the case of NHS Global this would come from exporting NHS products and knowledge to other countries and organisations, Health Secretary Andy Burnham said.
The Department of Health has already begun preliminary work with NHS organisations to help them bring products to market and will soon launch a call across the health service for further ideas to be submitted.
Burnham said: “A key part of responding to the economic challenge that the NHS faces will be realising the full potential of innovation, not only making effective use of our knowledge and skills at home, but also making money abroad that can be reinvested back into the NHS.”
“So we will invite NHS staff to come forward with their suggestions for the NHS innovations which we could take to the world and in the coming months we will commence a consultation on these proposals.”
There are also plans to consult with NHS staff and stakeholders on how to ensure NHS Global maximises benefit for patients in the UK.
Burnham said: “After a decade of record investment, the launch of NHS Global demonstrates that the NHS now has the confidence and capacity to play a greater role on the world stage. However, there is still much more that we can do and demand for NHS products and knowledge far outstrips supply.
“We know that BBC Worldwide has already had success in this area, and now the NHS, another of this country’s best-loved institutions, must make the most of these international opportunities.”
According to the DH, the total healthcare market was worth around $4.1 trillion in 2007 and since then has been growing at a significant rate.
The government believes that the NHS is home to “world-class innovators” in medicine that have much to offer to this currently untapped market.
NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson said: “The NHS provides high quality health services to patients every day. International demand for knowledge, skills and services developed in the NHS is growing.
“What we need is a more systematic approach to supporting NHS organisations in making the most of these opportunities and bringing benefits back to the NHS and the taxpayer. NHS Global provides us with the opportunity to take a significant step forward in making this happen.”
The Framework for NHS Involvement in International Development is available online here.
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