Public Affairs
The ABHI works with MPs, Whitehall, patient groups and the medical profession to find ways to innovate and accelerate the take-up of the best treatments in the Health Service.
Some of those activities are outlined below.
Ministerial Medical Technology Strategy Group
Following the conclusion of the Healthcare Industries Task Force (HITF) implementation group’s work in March 2007 (see below), a new high level group co-chaired by Health Minister Dawn Primarolo and John Jeans of GE has been established to ensure that there continues to be a forum for discussion of strategic issues between government and the medical technology industry.
View the minutes ot the first meeting held on 24 October 2007 here...
Healthcare Industries Task Force (HITF) Launched in November 2004 by Health Minister Lord Warner and Sir Christopher O'Donnell, HITF offers a blueprint for speeding innovations in healthcare from laboratory to the patient bedside.
The HITF policies offer more than just the obvious benefit of better patient care. HITF can save NHS funds longterm through more efficient technologies. It is also good news for the UK economy in terms of exports, creating high value-add jobs and allowing people to return to work quicker.
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Party Conferences
In 2007 ABHI held a fringe event at all three of the autumn party conferences held by the major political parties. ABHI teamed up with the GMC, NMC, and Healthcare Commission, to debate the issue of patient safety.
ABHI is a founder member of the Health Hotel. This is a coalition of 36 health-related organisations which work together at the party conferences to maximize the impact of key health issues.
http://www.healthhotel.org.uk/
Medical Technology Group
The ABHI is also active member of the Medical Technology Group (MTG). The MTG is a coalition of patients, members of the medical profession, patient groups and medical device innovators.
Established in 2000, the MTG campaigns to encourage a modern and effective NHS that responds to the needs of the patient.
For more information visit the MTG website: http://www.mtg.org.uk
Healthcare Industries Manifesto
Prior to the 2005 General Election, the ABHI launched the first ever healthcare industries manifesto, entitled 'The Future of Britain's Health'.
Touching on key election issues, like greater patient access to medical technologies, each section ends with a list of tangible recommendations to government.
Each of the three main party Health Spokespersons were challenged to respond to the ideas in the British healthcare industry's manifesto to state their case to the electorate on healthcare technology.
To read the ABHI manifesto click on the link in the dowloads box on the right.