- TBI’s report advocating for greater action on prevention of ill health estimates that a 20 per cent reduction in the incidence of six major disease categories that are keeping people out of work – cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic respiratory illness, diabetes and mental-health and musculoskeletal disorders – would have significant macroeconomic benefits.
- This report does not advocate for specific preventative-health measures but instead shows that a strong health and macroeconomic case can be made for prevention through upfront investment.
Onward report on rise of Oxbridge university spin-outs
- Since 2015, Oxford University has seen a 166% increase in the number of new companies formed from its research each year, attracting seven times as much investment. Meanwhile, Cambridge University has seen a 60% increase, securing nearly 14 times as much capital.
- However this recent spin-out success isn’t being replicated elsewhere.
UK cancer care ‘lags behind’ other countries – as experts highlight ‘ticking time bomb’
- In a new commentary piece, experts argue that without the government prioritising a cancer plan “more patients will undoubtedly die” from the disease.
- The UK “lags far behind other nations worldwide in relation to consistency of cancer policy”, according to the group of cancer doctors.
- They said countries like Denmark, France and Norway have consistent plans regarding the disease.
- MedTech Europe have acknowledged the recent declaration of a public health emergency related to mpox across various regions.
- They have outlined a number of ways in which medical technologies can support the response, including: diagnosis by PCR and disease surveillance.
Eco-friendly diagnostic tests ‘need global push’
- The global plastic pollution crisis and the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic – where billions of single-use diagnostic tests were discarded – is prompting businesses and researchers to develop new and more sustainable rapid diagnostic tests.
- Some companies have designed biodegradable tests for flu and COVID-19, while researchers are finding new and creative ways of making tests out of recycled materials.
- But these innovations mostly come from companies and institutions in the global North. Low- and middle-income countries, where plastic pollution is most severe and local production of diagnostics is rare, will need a big push from investors and regulatory bodies to become sustainable, experts say.
Tortoise Media: Death by Medicine
- Tortoise Media have released an insightful explainer on AMR and why it poses such a grave problem for humanity.
NHSE warns service will have to cut activity unless it gets more funding (paywall)
- NHS England has told the government that it will have to “slow down” efforts to cut waiting lists without a fresh funding injection.
