PHP8 A Survey of “Joint Working” Between the Pharmaceutical Industry and the National Health Service in the UK

Abstract

An increasingly high-profile policy initiative being driven by the Department of Health (DoH), the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and National Health Service (NHS) stakeholders, “joint working” encompasses a variety of forms of collaboration between the industry and the NHS in the UK (UK). This study sought to characterise the current landscape for joint working in the UK by surveying the types of projects being undertaken by participants. Secondary research was conducted to establish a comprehensive list of joint-working projects; the websites of major pharmaceutical companies, the ABPI, the DoH and other NHS stakeholders were surveyed for any references to joint working. A classification system was created to segment projects by type of scheme, therapeutic area(s) and stakeholders involved. This segmentation was analysed to look for qualitative trends in the UK joint-working environment. A key finding of the study is that many pharmaceutical companies are now active in joint working. Joint-working projects encompass a broad range of therapeutic areas, with most companies active in areas in which they have assets. These projects can be segmented into a number of different categories, including those centered on service (re)design, service appraisals in light of current guidelines, and techniques to better manage or educate patients. Pharmaceutical companies are also active in providing training or other types of support to health care professionals and managers within the NHS. The joint-working policy initiative in the UK has resulted in a significant number of partnerships within the NHS in recent years. These projects are varied in nature, and have seen the pharmaceutical industry and the health service cooperate in innovative ways. Increasingly, companies are willing to share their expertise and resources in projects which have indirect benefits for them in terms of the market access of their products.