The Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI), the association for the UK medical device industry, has welcomed the announcement that NHS England has completed the designation of 15 new Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs).
AHSNs, which are licensed and funded by NHS England, bring together commissioners, providers, academia and industry to spread innovation and pace across the NHS. They have a dual purpose:
• To improve health and create wealth by delivering a step-change in the way the NHS identifies, develops, adopts and spreads new innovations.
• To implement the key local commitments within Innovation Health and Wealth.
ABHI chief executive, Peter Ellingworth, said: “The announcement that 15 AHSNs have been designated and will begin working with manufacturers is potentially a big boost for the UK medical device industry. AHSNs will play a critical role in connecting industry, NHS and the academic community to help the development and adoption of innovative medical technologies. Working with industry to address critical issues such as the generation of evidence and how we can achieve the systematic adoption of medical technologies is critical to healthcare delivery and prosperity of industry. This role means AHSNs are uniquely placed to have a lasting impact on the how innovation is utilised by the NHS.”
