NHS Launches 'Innovator Passport' to Accelerate MedTech Adoption

Announced as part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan and Plan for Change, the NHS has proposed an 'innovator passport' to streamline the nationwide adoption of medical technologies.

This initiative addresses the current system where each of the 215 NHS trusts must individually assess and approve new technologies, leading to administrative inefficiencies. Under the new scheme, once a technology is approved by one NHS trust, it can be adopted by others without redundant evaluations. This change aims to reduce bureaucracy, cut costs, and ensure patients across the UK have equitable access to life-saving innovations. The 'innovator passport' is part of a broader 10-year plan to modernize the NHS, improve patient care, and support the UK's life sciences sector.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized that this move will eliminate the "postcode lottery" in patient access and make Britain a powerhouse for medical technology. The initiative is expected to be rolled out over the next two years, with the Department of Health and Social Care overseeing its implementation.