Dame Barbara Hakin, Chair of the Health Tech Alliance and former Deputy Chief Executive of NHSE, commented on Government’s 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS England which was unvelied this morning:
“The Health Tech Alliance welcomes the direction set out in the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan, particularly the recognition of health tech as a key pillar underpinning the future of the NHS. We are pleased to see the prominent role given to digital and tech innovation which shows a clear understanding that modern healthcare must be both resilient and responsive to patient needs.
We are especially encouraged by the introduction of the Innovator Passport and the establishment of a rules-based pathway for medical technologies. The Innovator Passport, designed to streamline the adoption of new technologies across NHS trusts, will reduce admin burdens and facilitate a more cohesive and efficient integration of effective innovations into NHS patient care.
The rules-based pathway represents a significant shift towards a more predictable and transparent process for the evaluation, funding, and commissioning of medical technologies. This alignment, bringing parity for med tech with medicines, is crucial for addressing urgent healthcare needs and reducing variability in patient access to innovative treatments.
The Plan includes some critical steps that have the potential to accelerate safe, effective health tech into frontline care, remove unnecessary barriers for innovators, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for patients.Turning this vision into reality will require close collaboration between policymakers, the NHS, and the health tech sector. We look forward to working together to ensure these ambitious plans translate into tangible progress for patients and industry alike.”