NHS Explores International Markets to Generate More Income

The United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS; London), the largest publicly funded health system in the world, is now looking to explore new international opportunities to export its knowledge, skills, and services.

NHS Global, a new organization within the NHS, plans to build on the success of other U.K. organizations such as BBC Worldwide, which markets radio and television programs abroad and invests money back into the BBC. The functions of NHS Global will be set out by the U.K. Department of Health, which has begun preliminary work with various NHS organizations that are already sharing their expertise internationally, such as the NHS Institute and Moorfields Eye Hospital (London, UK), and will launch a call across the system for further ideas to be submitted for consideration by NHS Global. It will also consult with NHS staff and stakeholders on how to ensure that NHS Global maximizes benefit for patients in the UK.

"After a decade of record investment, the launch of NHS Global demonstrates that the NHS now has the confidence and capacity to play a greater role on the world stage,” said U.K. Health Secretary Andy Burnham. "However, there is still much more that we can do and demand for NHS products and knowledge far outstrips supply. We know that BBC Worldwide has already had success in this area, and now the NHS, another of this country's best-loved institutions, must make the most of these international opportunities.”

"Proper management of our knowledge and skills will create additional income to invest back into frontline services. At the same time, greater participation in the Global Health agenda will provide greater security to the U.K. and the rest of the world in confronting international health security challenges, such as pandemic flu,” said Prof. Lord Ara Darzi, M.D., who has been asked to spearhead the NHS's expansion into the global healthcare market. "NHS Global will be key to unlocking this potential and, in doing so will bring tangible benefits to the NHS, the U.K., and the world.”

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United Kingdom National Health Service
Moorfields Eye Hospital