OLS launched with medtech on board
The new Office for Life Sciences (OLS) has been launched, with trade associations ABHI and BIVDA involved on behalf of the medtech sector.
The OLS, as reported in our April issue, is a virtual office headed by Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and Innovation, with the aim of producing an integrated strategy to strengthen and promote the UK life sciences industry (medical devices, diagnostics, biotech and pharmaceuticals).
The immediate task facing the OLS is to improve the operating environment for life sciences companies. It will deliver an Industrial Strategy for the life sciences by the end of July 2009.
The virtual office will work across Government. Its goals include improving access to finance for SMEs; stimulating investment in the industry; improving the uptake of innovation by the NHS; and marketing the UK industry globally.
The OLS is working closely with industry trade associations, including the Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) and the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA).
Peter Ellingworth, Chief Executive of ABHI, said: “Industry welcomes the Government’s urgent response to the problems facing the life sciences industries. Rapid action is needed to make progress in improving uptake of medical technologies as well as with business-threatening issues such as the cost and shortage of capital, as well as late payment.”
The joint industry and Government working group will meet weekly to implement its responses to the issues facing the life sciences sector. ABHI will provide the group’s secretariat.
WHIA brings imaging to the developing world
The World Health Imaging Alliance (WHIA) has formed partnerships with major healthcare companies to bring digital imaging technology to communities in need around the world.
Sedecal, Carestream Health and Merge Healthcare are now working in partnership with WHIA, a non-profit provider of diagnostic medical imaging solutions to underserved communities.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, two-thirds of the world’s population lack access to basic diagnostic X-ray services. WHIA plans to make 20,000 X-ray systems available worldwide, providing a billion people with access to diagnostic imaging
WHIA aims to provide a low-cost, sustainable digital imaging solution. Many of the low-cost solutions currently available to developing countries lack sustainability. Many also lack the benefits of digital imaging.
To achieve this goal, WHIA has developed partner relationships with key vendors. Sedecal, a global OEM manufacturer of X-ray systems, has partnered with WHIA to provide X-ray machines. Digital medical imaging is provided through a relationship with Carestream Health, a global provider of medical and dental imaging systems. Software systems to manage digital images are provided through a partnership with Merge Healthcare, a medical imaging software solutions company.
WHIA currently has a site in South Africa, and another is being implemented in Guatemala.
Investment in cancer treatment in Wales
Measures by the Welsh Assembly Government to invest in new equipment and additional staff for the treatment of cancer have been announced by Health Minister Edwina Hart.
More than £12.6million will be invested in equipment at the North Wales Cancer Centre at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan. The funding will go towards replacing two linear accelerators (linacs) and a CT simulator. The new linacs will improve on the current quality of treatment, having more advanced technology for accurate destruction of cancer cells.
The new equipment, expected to be in operation from early 2011, will improve and accelerate the treatment of patients, and will be able to transfer patient data electronically between machines.
Edwina Hart said: “With one in three people diagnosed with cancer at some stage throughout their lives, ensuring that our hospitals have the best equipment possible to tackle the disease is a top priority. Swift treatment eases patient anxiety and makes an unquestionable difference in ensuring the best possible outcome.”
Access to radiotherapy will also be improved through an investment of £900,000. The funding, shared between cancer centres in Swansea, Cardiff and Bodelwyddan, will increase capacity through the appointment of further staff, giving patients access to more hours of radiotherapy treatment each week.
Battle to save MRI near victory
An EU directive that would severely restrict the use of MRI scanners in hospitals and research centres has been challenged by the European Parliament and an international commission.
The calls for amendments to the Physical Agents (EMF) Directive represent a significant step towards victory for the MRI Alliance, an umbrella group campaigning in Europe to defend the use of MRI technology against legislation.
The EMF Directive, due to come into force in 2012, limits the legal levels of occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields. This is relevant to a range of industries.
The International Commission on Non- Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the European Parliament have both backed calls to amend the legislation – in the former case by raising the acceptable level of exposure, in the latter case by exempting MRI scanners.
The EMF Directive was based on previous ICNIRP guidelines that were provisional. ICNIRP has since revised its findings in line with further research.
Dr Stephen Keevil from King’s College London, author of an Institute of Physics report on MRI and the EMF Directive, said: “There is still some way to go but this groundswell from both ICNIRP and the European Parliament is very welcome. The Commission now needs to take heed.”
There are 500 MRI scanners in use in UK hospitals, benefiting over one million patients each year through applications such as the diagnosis and monitoring of cancer and stroke.
New health checks and screening under way
Two national NHS diagnostic programmes have been introduced: the NHS Health Checks programme and MRSA screening for elective patients.
Under the NHS Health Checks programme, everyone aged 40–74 in England will be offered a free health check to identify their risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.
The checks will include a blood test for cholesterol and (in some cases) blood glucose level, and a follow-up personal assessment. It is predicted that they will prevent 1600 heart attacks and strokes and help to save 650 lives each year.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said: “The NHS is becoming more personal and responsive to individual needs; becoming as good at prevention and keeping people healthy as it is at providing care and cures; and able to offer the information and support people need to make healthy choices.”
The preventative checks will be fully implemented by 2012/13. They will be available at GP surgeries, health centres, walk-in centres and pharmacies.
All NHS trusts will now offer MRSA screening to all relevant elective patients. Most patients with planned admissions will be offered a swab test for MRSA. If they are found to be carrying MRSA, they will be treated for it before admission to hospital.
News in Brief
Smiths Medical is to withdraw from the diabetes sector and stop selling its Deltec Cozmo insulin pumps. The London-based firm blamed dwindling market share and changes in diabetes management, as well as the “aggressive” marketing of rivals. The decision will affect 51 employees.
The Northwest Regional Development Agency is investing £4.9m in a groundbreaking project to support NHS care and the region’s biohealth sector. The Northwest e-Health e-Lab will create new information resources for developing healthcare, based on analysis of anonymised health records.
A new screening programme for bowel cancer will target all men and women aged 50–74 in Greater Glasgow and Clyde. A screening kit will be sent to their homes, where a simple test can be carried out and returned to a laboratory. The programme will screen for pre-symptomatic cancer.
NHS Training for Innovation is the new name of THOTH, the NHS technology training hub dedicated to training health professionals in the use of medical devices. The renamed agency has launched e4E, a new initiative to create a library of e-learning modules for medical equipment training.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain has issued new practice guidance on medical devices and diagnostics for pharmacists and their staff . The guidance covers purchasing, selling and recommending of medical devices, and provision of testing and screening services.
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