The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a policy paper looking at the achievements made since the launch of the medtech strategy and the next steps to boost the adoption of medical technology in the NHS.
Ministerial foreword
Time and time again innovative medical technology (medtech) has advanced our quality of care. As we look ahead to the next 75 years of the NHS and social care system, medtech has never been so important as a catalyst for change to improve patient outcomes.
That is why, in February 2023, we published the government’s inaugural medtech strategy. This set out how, over the next 5 to 10 years, we will ensure the health and social care system can reliably access safe, effective and innovative technologies. These technologies will enable the delivery of high-quality care, outstanding patient safety and excellent health outcomes, while making the best use of taxpayer money.
One year into delivery of the medtech strategy, we are pleased to present an update on our achievements towards establishing an innovation pathway, to realise our vision of right product, right price, right place.
Medtech is integral to tackling our major health challenges, with the ability to transform care and improve both productivity and patient outcomes. It plays an important role at each point in a patient’s care pathway from prevention through to diagnostics, treatment and aftercare.
Medtech is a vitally important industry for the UK economy. Building on the Life Sciences Vision, this government is committed to creating an environment for innovators to thrive and grow.
As we look forward, our ambition is to provide patients with faster access to the right products, wherever they are in the country, by streamlining the end-to-end innovation pathway. This takes products from initial concept through to use in the NHS to support patient care. To do this, we are providing clearer signals to industry on the innovation patients need, reforming the regulatory framework for medical devices, expanding our assessments of product categories, improving clarity over funding routes and making procurement an enabler for innovation, not a barrier.
We know there is still much to do. Streamlining the innovation pathway is a complex task involving targeted initiatives requiring leadership from across the health system, and we need all parts of the sector to play their part. As we continue this journey, we would like to thank colleagues from across the health and social care system, devolved administrations, industry and patient groups for their support and wider work, in alignment with the medtech strategy, to make this ambition a reality.
We are encouraged by the progress made and excited by the opportunities that lie before us. We look forward to continuing to work with patients and partners in further delivering the ambitions of the medtech strategy.
Andrew Stephenson Minister of State (Minister for Health and Secondary Care)
Lord Nick Markham Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for the Lords)
Date: 12 April