GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY LAUNCH JOINT REPORT ENCOURAGING
INNOVATION IN NHS AND HEALTHCARE SECTOR
17/11/04
Healthcare Industries Task Force helps brings benefits for
health and social care services, patients and industry
Health Minister Lord Warner and Sir Christopher O'Donnell, CEO
of of Smith and Nephew, today announced the launch of the
Healthcare Industries Task Force (HITF) report.
The Healthcare Industries Task Force (HITF) has been the most
important initiative to date between Government and the medical
devices industry. HITF was established to explore issues of common
interest and identify opportunities for co-operation that would
bring benefits for health and social care services, patients and
industry. The HITF report outlines an ambitious work programme
including:
- a modernised Device Evaluation Service which will be managed by
the NHS Procurement and Supply Agency (PASA) target date 1 April
2005
- development of an Innovation Centre to stimulate and promote
innovation in the NHS as part of an appropriate organisation
- piloted Healthcare Technology Co-operatives as academic centres
of excellence - pioneering specialist treatments and
techniques
- building R&D capacity for medical devices through UK
Clinical Research Collaboration
- improved training and education of NHS staff on the use of
medical devices
- maximising the UK's influence in regulatory matters in the EU
and worldwide
- a focused export strategy for the UK healthcare sector
- more informed, efficient procurement
- better communication with patients and the public on the
valuable role played by healthcare products in our daily lives
- a new data collection system to gain a clearer picture of the
industry and its performance
The Task Force was established to explore issues of common
interest and identify opportunities for co-operation that would
bring benefits for health and social care services, patients and
industry. The results have exceeded initial expectations. From 1
April 2005 the existing Device Evaluation Service (DES) will start
to develop into a new service managed by the NHS Purchasing and
Supply Agency (PASA) to better inform purchasing decisions. Such a
service will be critical to the success of the proposed
Collaborative Procurement Hubs, a new regional focus for purchasing
decisions with significant clinician involvement.
A new Innovation Centre is planned to promote and support
development of new healthcare technologies as part of an
appropriate organisation . A new concept for the development of
Healthcare Technology Co-operatives as centres of excellence will
be piloted, and a training and education initiative will be taken
forward to improve the skills of health professionals in the use of
medical devices. Steps to maximise the UK's influence in
international regulatory matters are in hand and a focused export
strategy is under development. This reflects the Government's
agenda for stimulating innovation as a means to maintain the UK's
edge as a market leader in science and technology-intensive
markets.
HITF was established in October 2003 and was in operation for
one year under the joint chairmanship of Lord Warner and Sir
Christopher O'Donnell, Chief Executive of Smith & Nephew. A
joint strategic group led by Health Minister, Lord Warner and Sir
Chris O'Donnell, will be formed to oversee ongoing work on the key
outputs and their implementation. This will cement the ongoing
dialogue between Government and this sector.
Health Minister, Lord Warner, said:
"HITF had a challenging agenda and the outcome has been very
positive. The ambitious work programme has been very successful in
delivering practical measures and strategies to help accelerate the
adoption of innovative medical technologies for the benefit of
patients. An enhanced Device Evaluation Service and a new
Innovation Centre are particular practical improvements we want to
follow through with. We will continue to work in partnership to
encourage the best use of NHS resources and stimulate science and
industry in the UK. This should help improve growth in
manufacturing, investment, employment and exports."
Sir Christopher O'Donnell, Chief Executive of Smith &
Nephew, said:
"The HITF has been a challenging process but I am very proud of
our achievements in this combined industry and government
initiative. The key outcomes for industry are the changes to the
evaluation of medical devices, the move to regional procurement and
the proposed innovation centre. We look forward to developing the
strategic partnership with government to accelerate adoption of
innovative health technologies for patient benefit."
Sir Stephen Brown, Chief Executive UK Trade & Investment
said:
"UK Trade & Investment welcomes the publication of the HITF
report. Our work with HITF has enabled us to strengthen our
relationship with industry and within Government and we will build
on this to turn the recommendations into positive outcomes, which
will contribute to delivering our services."
Notes to Editors
1. The HITF report can be found at the DH
website on: www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/hitf
2. The healthcare industry in the UK is made
up of around 1800 companies producing a wide range of medical
equipment and devices, ranging from syringes and aids for the
disabled to diagnostic test kits, pacemakers, high technology
scanners. Companies include both major international players and
small organisations manufacturing niche products. Total output in
the UK is about L4.5bn, of which L1.5bn is sold to the NHS. Exports
are in the region of L3bn. (Source of figures : HITF
Metrics)
3. HITF, was set up in October 2003 and was
jointly chaired by Health Minister Lord Warner and Sir Christopher
O'Donnell, Chief Executive of Smith & Nephew. First of its
kind, HITF is an important and timely initiative. It brought
together the expertise of all the relevant stakeholders more
specifically the medical devices industry leaders in the UK and
Government policy makers to explore issues of common interest and
identify opportunities for co-operation that would bring benefits
for health and social care services, patients and
industry.
4. The Association of British Health-Care
Industries (ABHI) brought industry interests together for HITF. It
worked with other trade associations, including the British In
Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA), the British Healthcare
Trades Association (BHTA), the Surgical Dressing Manufacturers
Association (SDMA), the British Association of Anaesthetic &
Respiratory Equipment Manufacturers Association (BAREMA), GAMBICA
(representing the interests of companies in the instrumentation,
control, automation and laboratory technology industry) and the
Association of Healthcare Technology Providers for Imaging,
Radiotherapy and Care Manufacturers (AxREM), and regional
organisations Medilink, Southern Medical Alliance, Mediwales and
Medical Devices in Scotland.
5. Media inquiries only to Aoife Kilkenny,
Head of Communications at ABHI, on 020 7787 3068 or e-mail
Aoife.Kilkenny@abhi.org.uk,
and Ben Lewis in the Department of Health's Media Centre on 020
7210 5656.
[ENDS]
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