Words by GOLD newsdesk
A new cross-industry report is calling for the UK’s NHS to design its health data infrastructure to better meet the needs of academic and life sciences researchers, referring to current processes as “slow and inefficient”.
The report, ‘Unlocking NHS Data for Research’, outlines key industry requirements to improve the impact of government investments in Secure Data Environments (SDEs). SDEs are highly controlled platforms that allow approved researchers to access sensitive health data securely, ensuring patient confidentiality while enabling vital research and analysis.
The report, produced jointly by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) and the BioIndustry Association (BIA), highlights that high-quality, timely access to NHS data is essential for industry-led research. In particular, to enable breakthroughs in drug development and AI-driven healthcare solutions.
“The UK operates in a globally competitive market, with many countries making significant investments in their health data infrastructure to attract industry research and investment,” said Janet Valentine, Executive Director of Innovation and Research Policy, ABPI, in a press release. “To achieve the government’s ambition for growth and for the UK to become a world leader in AI, it is essential that we design a health data infrastructure that will enable small and large companies across the life science sector to flourish.”
The NHS has so far invested £14m to establish a regional network of SDEs in hopes to provide secure access to NHS data across England. However, industry leaders stress that these environments must be designed with research needs in mind to deliver meaningful scientific and economic benefits.
The report outlines five key recommendations to improve NHS data access, including but not limited to prioritising high-value datasets that support drug discovery, improved differentiation between data hosting models and the creation of a unified, streamlined data access service with a single point of entry.
Also commenting on the report, Emma Lawrence, Head of Data Tech Policy and Public Affairs, BIA, noted: “To unlock the full potential of the UK’s health data, we need to ensure that companies of all sizes can access this data in an efficient, timely and safe manner.” She further emphasised: “Improving data access will not only accelerate innovation but also help small companies to scale in the UK, supporting the government’s growth agenda.”
The recommendations provide the NHS, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology with a clear opportunity to align their data sharing efforts more closely with industry research needs. By doing so, there is potential to drive greater scientific progress, attract investment and hopefully deliver better outcomes for patients while supporting the UK’s ambitions for life sciences growth.
