PATIENT SAFETY
innovation and help put it in the hands of decision-makers.
Considerations for approaching NHS procurement
The NHS is the world’s largest publicly funded health service: getting a new product adopted into the NHS can feel like an unsurmountable challenge, given the often complicated and fragmented procurement processes. It is unsurprising, though frustrating, that many innovators have developed successful products but fallen at this final hurdle. Without commissioners and procurement leads to buy the innovation, new technologies simply will not reach patients and clinicians. Getting to grips with this complex procurement landscape, as well as with the drivers behind purchasing decision, is vital in order to flourish.
Health economics
Healthcare systems need to be able to demonstrate clinical effectiveness and, in many cases, cost-savings. Careful consideration of these factors during early-stage development will help convince key decision-makers to adopt and promote new technologies. Health economics is a field which has grown astronomically over the past decade. These days, it is almost certain that any NHS contracting will require a demonstration of some level of health economic assessment. This can be done through partnering with private consultants or academic institutions.
Health economic assessments of technologies will inform both innovators and future customers what the potential impact of the product is, based on empirical data and statistics. Having a robust health economic model along with experienced and extensive procurement insight is a powerful tool in achieving hospital uptake.
Clearing regulatory hurdles
Regulation is yet another reason to engage early on with advisors and experts when developing a medical device, wearable or
software that requires any regulatory approval. With products that require regulatory approval, any development work needs to be documented within certain regulations, in order to create what is known as a technical file. Before spending hours developing a product, only to have to refine and complete paperwork retrospectively, innovators would be well-advised to speak to a regulatory consultant who can offer guidance on the best path through regulatory approval, something which can be notoriously difficult if not done properly.
Finding the perfect partner
It can be difficult to know where to begin when looking to engage with industry. For academics, an excellent first port of call is the University Technology Transfer Office (TTO). TTOs are designed to facilitate scientific translation and advise on intellectual property and spin-out options. Another network to tap into is the Academic Health Science Network (AHSNs), funded by NHS England and the Government’s Office for Life Sciences, which specialises in bridging the gap between academics, clinicians and industry. This is a fantastic resource which can help signpost innovators towards the most appropriate industry leads for the project.
Securing funding
Despite being one of the world’s leading hubs of basic science research, there exists a significant gap in the UK in carrying research from the bench to the bedside.
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The UK government has acknowledged that overcoming the challenges within translation and innovation requires greater alignment between the various stakeholders and innovators themselves. Moreover, this integrated approach needs resources and funding to facilitate better engagement. Each year, a significant number of innovations stall, or sometimes even halt, due to the simple lack of funding. If an innovator is trying to ‘go it alone’ then knowledge of the funding landscape is vital.
Over the past decade the number of publicly funded grants has grown massively,
AUGUST 2019
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