31 October 2003
The government and UK health care companies have launched a joint task force to both boost the industry's turnover and improve patient care.
The task force will be chaired by health minister Lord Warner and Smith & Nephew chief executive Sir Christopher O'Donnell.
The health care industry is made up of 1,800 companies varying from multinational firms to niche equipment manufacturers. It is estimated that the NHS buys £2.2bn of the industry's goods each year while products worth £1.6bn are exported.
'Great advances are being made in medical technology and I want to ensure we harness this expertise and maximise the benefits for the NHS, patients, industry and national economy,' Warner said.
O'Donnell added that companies would like to expand their partnerships with the medical professions and health care providers in the NHS.
The task force will run for a year and will include industry figures, science minister Lord Sainsbury and trade minister Mike O'Brien.
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