UK to launch ‘innovator passports’ for faster health tech adoption

A new ‘innovator passport’ is set to be introduced over the next two years to accelerate the adoption of new medical technologies within the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). Once a technology is robustly assessed by one part of the NHS, the system will allow it to be deployed more easily across the rest of the service.

While healthcare innovations must be thoroughly tested to ensure safety and effectiveness, the process can delay the rollout of life-saving technologies. The new system aims to remove unnecessary barriers, helping companies innovate faster and allowing patients to benefit from cutting-edge treatments more quickly.

The passport will be supported by a digital platform called MedTech Compass, developed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). It will act as a centralised platform for compliance checks, reducing duplication and making effective health technologies more visible and accessible across the NHS.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the changes are designed to cut down on bureaucracy that has previously forced suppliers to submit the same data to multiple NHS trusts in varying formats. He called the system inefficient for both the NHS and the businesses working with it.

Streeting added that the new passports will save time and reduce duplication, strengthening Britain’s life sciences sector. He described it as a key component of the government’s 10-Year Health Plan and an important step towards making the UK a leader in medical innovation.

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