AstraZeneca, the UK’s leading life science company, are the
latest organisation to sign up to a charter to promote health
care innovation in Wales.
They have today joined the Welsh Government, Swansea University
and Life Sciences Hub Wales in pledging to work together to
develop new ways of diagnosing and treating illnesses and
achieving what matters most to patients and service users.
This collaborative approach will integrate policy aims across
health and the economy in Wales, helping to prioritise the
introduction of innovative healthcare medicines and technologies
in Wales, on the basis of value created for people and
communities.
The Welsh Government’s Chief Digital and Innovation
Officer, Mike Emery said:
“New science, data and technology is leading to new breakthroughs
in the way we diagnose and treat illnesses, leading to much
better results for patients.
This charter brings together the NHS, government, academia, and
industry partners to explore and develop new ways to deliver
healthcare in Wales.
It will help introduce innovative healthcare practices,
technology and medicines in Wales that will lead to better health
outcomes for everyone.
“This work is a key to delivering Value Based Healthcare as set
out in the Welsh Government’s health strategy A Healthier
Wales.”
AstraZeneca UK’s President, Tom Keith-Roach
said:
“At AstraZeneca, we're passionate about transforming patient
lives for the better. By partnering with the healthcare system
and academia we can transform health outcomes at the population
level together through innovative, sustainable delivery models of
care.
We are proud to be building on our existing purpose led
partnerships with Swansea University and Health Boards across the
country to deliver on the vision for a healthier Wales.
Together we are already advancing the way thousands of people are
diagnosed and treated; earlier lung cancer diagnosis and
treatment through targeted genomic testing across Aneurin Bevan
and tackling post-pandemic backlogs in asthma care across Hywel
Dda.
Through this Charter we now have the shared ambition to scale
partnerships like these at a national level.
AstraZeneca is proud to work with Wales and together we should be
inspired by what science can do.”
Chris Martin, Chair at Life Sciences Hub Wales,
said:
“As a nation, Wales acts as a true trailblazer in Value-Based
Healthcare, with our organisation having long supported
ground-breaking initiatives that sustainably enhance outcomes for
patients and staff.
We’re excited to strengthen our relationships with cross-sector
colleagues through this Charter, where we can support vital
innovation adoption – working closely with Health Boards and
industry partners to source solutions that address need and
deliver value.”
Professor Hamish Laing at Swansea University
said:
“Swansea University was founded by industry and has a long
history of supporting industry partnerships.
Since 2021 we have been proud to host the internationally
renowned Value-Based Health and Care Academy, part funded by
Welsh Government, in our School of Management.
The Academy delivers education, research and consultancy in
Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC) to support its introduction across
the World.
The University looks forward to working with AZ and our partners
in Wales to advance learning and the adoption of innovation that
supports sustainable health systems.”
Notes to editors
- The signing will take place at 15.00 on Tuesday 21 November
at the School of Management, Swansea Bay University.
- Photographs of the signing will be available afterwards. If
you would like a photograph or would like to send a photographer
or reporter to the signing, please contact Catrin Newman -
c.a.newman@swansea.ac.uk
- Available for interview will be:
Welsh Government’s Chief Digital and Innovation Officer, Mike
Emery
AstraZeneca UK’s President, Tom Keith-Roach
- The first charter, signed in 2021, led to work between Pfizer
global and UK, NHS Wales and Swansea University’s Value-Based
Health and Care Academy on several different projects, including
the design of outcome-based agreements for medicines, the
measurement of outcomes for patients with inflammatory bowel
disease and the benefit of digital technology in Hywel Dda Health
Board area to help people manage persistent pain.
