Pharma collaboration to make Greater Manchester a world leader in medicines

A new partnership announced today (February 24) is seeking to help Greater Manchester become the world’s safest and most effective place to receive medicine and cement its position in the research and development arena.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the pharma industry and Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership will create the Greater Manchester and Pharmaceutical Industry Partnership Group.

The organisation’s mission will be to improve the safety of medicines and utilise the NHS’ data and information capabilities to discover, develop and ultimately deliver new medicines and treatments.

The agreement will also enable Greater Manchester to explore new, more effective ways of paying for medicine based on patient outcomes. Each year, around £1bn is spent on medicines in the region.

Further, the Greater Manchester and Pharmaceutical Industry Partnership Group will outline plans for the development of a world-leading medical research site.

Jon Rouse, the chief officer of Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “Our ambition is to be the safest and most effective place to receive medicines in the world and this unique step will help us on that journey.

“We want to be able to improve people’s health, get the very best value for money from our medicines budget and continue to raise Greater Manchester’s profile as a global hub for investment in research and development.”

He continued: “The agreement is a first step; there are some important principles we will observe and much still to be done but it shows the power of collaboration we’re harnessing in Greater Manchester. When we come together then we can really grasp the opportunities devolution has given us.”

The MoU is being signed at a meeting of Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Strategic Partnership board by the following partners: Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership; Greater Manchester Combined Authority; Ethical Medicines Industry Group; the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry; the British Generic Manufacturers Association; and Health Innovation Manchester.

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