Minister Advocates UK as Prime Market for Swift Adoption of Novel Therapies

Director of the Number 10 Policy Unit Andrew Griffith walks outside Downing Street after a COBR meeting, in London on Feb. 22, 2022. Henry Nicholls/Reuters

A government minister has advocated pushing the UK as a primary market for the quicker adoption of novel therapies, pointing towards the British health care system as an integrated model that can help speed up the process.

Speaking on Tuesday, Andrew Griffith, the minister of state for science, research, and innovation, emphasised the pivotal role of health care in government spending, revealing that a substantial proportion was dedicated to the health sector.

He said, “Government spends four pounds of every pound that’s in the economy, and the majority of that, the single largest category … is in health.”

Mr. Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs, underscored the profound impact of an integrated health care system, asserting that “the advantages of an integrated health care system should be that we can offer unique datasets for new therapies.”

He highlighted the potential for expedited adoption of novel therapies in the UK, envisioning it as the primary market for such innovations.

“The UK should be the market in which we see more novel therapies tested, to be clear, adopted, than any other market,” Mr. Griffith said during a panel discussion with the Conservative think tank Onward, adding, “We should be able to get those new therapies into arms and bodies more quickly than a non-integrated health care system.”

Acknowledging the inherent trade-offs in an integrated health care system, Mr. Griffith, who has held his role since November, believes that the UK’s ability to swiftly integrate new therapies and its robust life sciences industry positions it favourably on the global stage.

“We have a fantastic life sciences industry, which is one of three by any measure in the world, and the two others in China and the U.S., which are huge, massive tech markets,” he noted.

Public Trust Is ‘Incredibly Important’

When questioned by The Epoch Times regarding potential public reluctance towards adopting new technologies, particularly in the health sector, Mr. Griffith emphasised the pivotal role of trust, stating: “Trust is incredibly important. If, like me, you broadly want to see a near-frictionless adoption of new technologies … then you need to ensure that you do everything to foster an environment of trust.”

Mr. Griffith, former director of the Policy Unit at Number 10, elaborated on three fundamental aspects to cultivate and sustain trust. Firstly, he stressed the need to celebrate democratic institutions, emphasising the accountability achieved through parliamentary scrutiny: “I think that’s a really important thing. Again, there’s always a yin to the yang, that we live in a world where there are fewer democratic states.”

He also underscored his belief in choice, saying, “Philosophically, I am a conservative, we believe in freedom of choice.” Mr. Griffith advocated for maintaining multiple policy choices, such as the accessibility of cash in the wake of digital payment systems, especially for those who may be less inclined or familiar with new technologies.

Mr. Griffith also urged policymakers to recognize their role in maintaining public trust as a key performance indicator, telling The Epoch Times, “Particularly if you’re a policymaker … you do hear a lot about the regulatory side of things … because we have to own that KPI of maintaining public trust.”

Molly, a 7-year-old labrador therapy dog, is stroked by Jake Gregory of Cornwall while Jake receives his COVID-19 vaccination at a temporary NHS COVID vaccination centre in Wadebridge, England, on Aug. 20, 2022. Hugh Hastings/Getty Images

Vaccine Roll-out Commended

Speaking on the same panel, James Wise, a venture capitalist, author, and expert on emerging technologies, responded to Mr. Griffith’s emphasis on trust and adoption of new technologies by pointing to the exceptional speed of the UK’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Mr. Wise highlighted the unique circumstances surrounding the vaccine development, stating: “Just look at what we did on the vaccine. But that was an exceptional process.”

He acknowledged that the vaccine development and approval process deviated from the usual norms of regulatory bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NHS, and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Mr. Wise urged consideration for streamlining and improving the standard procedures, saying, “So just imagine if you could make the normal process closer to that exception process and deliver those fantastic outcomes.”

Expert Warns Against Rapid Roll-out Technique

Part of the rapid rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine included a new technique for vaccine and pharmaceutical product distribution, called Point of Care (PoC) manufacturing. Previously, an expert warned The Epoch Times that British health staff may not have the “skills or experience” to perform the assembly required in this process, which has been continued after the pandemic ended.

The PoC process allows some hospitals and other permitted “points of care” to assemble or prepare vaccines and other treatments on-site, after the raw material is shipped to the distribution points. This became a widespread practice in the UK during the roll out of mRNA treatments.

Speaking to The Epoch Times in October, Hedley Rees, the owner of Pharmaflow and a consultant pharmacologist with over 40 years of experience, said: “Point of care manufacture has been introduced into the NHS when staff do not have the skills or experience to ensure safe working practices. This is a dangerous experiment.”

Mr. Rees added: “The MHRA I used to work with as a consultant to the industry has all but disintegrated. The skilled inspectors of pharmaceutical facilities have left over the past 10 years and either not been replaced, or their responsibilities handed over to raw recruits.”