The Government has announced £4 million of funding for businesses to develop cutting-edge ideas to address some of the country’s biggest health problems.
The Department of Health (DH) has opened two new competitions with up to £2 m of funding each, to develop technological and innovative solutions that can change people’s behaviour in order to reduce the impact of obesity and alcohol related diseases; and improve the number of patients taking their medication as prescribed. Obesity and alcohol related diseases and patients not taking their medication as prescribed are major health challenges today. Alcohol and obesity related diseases cost the NHS over £7 bn each year and between 6% to 10% of all hospital admissions could be preventable if prescription medication was taken correctly. Businesses have been invited to come up with innovative solutions to these challenges. This could be anything from a device which helps people monitor what they eat or drink or a personalised care package to help people take their medication as prescribed. Sir David Nicholson, chief executive of the NHS said: “Investing in innovation is vital for a modern and efficient NHS. It will benefit the patient, the taxpayer and UK plc. The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) is a key part of the Innovation, Health and Wealth agenda, which aims to spread innovation throughout the NHS. Organisations are invited to submit their ideas which could have a impact on patients and the NHS.”
Photo Credit: Department of Health
