New guidance issued on NHS and industry partnership

The Department of Health has announced the publication of new guidance on partnership working between the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry, with the health service being urged to cooperate with business to enhance patient care.

Included in the guidance is encouragement for NHS staff and organisations to work together for the delivery of high-quality healthcare, in addition to information for NHS staff involved in partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry.

Advice includes proposals on how primary care trusts, clinicians and pharmaceutical firms can collaborate on identifying the particular medical needs in any community.

Dawn Primarolo, health minister, said: “We know that joint working between the NHS and pharmaceutical industry can bring real benefits to patients so we want the NHS to work with them more to improve patient care.”

She added that examples of best practice show that partnership between the NHS and industry can offer genuine improvements in patient care.

The Department of Health cited the example of the East Lincolnshire PCT, which cooperated with three firms to identify patients with suspected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, train doctors to manage these patients and establish specific clinics for the condition.

In July 2007, the Department of Health announced that it would not proceed with a planned diagnostic services partnership with Atos Healthcare in south-west England after it was decided that the company would not be able to establish services according to a prearranged timetable.