ABPI calls on UK govt to embrace innovation in medicines

Faster uptake of new technologies and innovative new medicines is vital to helping the government deliver its goal of better treatment for patients on the UK’s National Health Service, says the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), which attended the Prime Minister’s speech at Ealing Hospital, London, yesterday to hear how the government wants to progress its NHS reforms.

The ABPI is representing industry in talks with government about the reforms, underlining the very real opportunity to deliver better treatment for patients coupled with improved efficiency for the NHS. It is absolutely key that the Nicholson Review of the diffusion of innovation in the NHS examines the use of medicines as a priority, the trade group contends.

An ABPI spokesperson said: “To achieve these benefits, it is essential that all the bodies responsible for implementing NHS reforms have an obligation to foster the use of innovation in the NHS. If the NHS is too slow to embrace new technologies, there will be missed opportunities to improve healthcare, and it is patients who feel the loss most. “