UK Health Minister Calls for Faster Adoption of Healthcare Innovations Through India-UK Collaboration

India's digital innovation and large-scale delivery capabilities, combined with Britain's research strengths, could help take healthcare breakthroughs to patients at scaleIndia's digital innovation and large-scale delivery capabilities, combined with Britain's research strengths, could help take healthcare breakthroughs to patients at scale

In a recent address, the UK's Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Health and Social Care, James Frith, has called for speedy healthcare innovation adoption through the UK-India partnership.

According to James, Britain and India must move beyond healthcare breakthroughs to ensure innovations reach patients at scale.

The Minister in the Department of Health and Social Care also highlighted progress over the 100 days since the bilateral Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was implemented in mid-July.

He identified a gap between scientific discovery and real-world adoption as one of the biggest challenges facing healthcare systems across both countries.

"The next great challenge in healthcare innovation is not simply discovery, but adoption," said Frith.

“We know how to innovate. What we have too often struggled to do is to take what works and make it work everywhere,” added Minister Frith.

Highlighting the complementary strengths of the two countries, he said, “India brings extraordinary strengths in digital innovation and delivery at population scale. Britain brings world-leading research, life sciences and the unique strengths of our NHS. Together, we have an opportunity not simply to invent the future of healthcare, but to make it work for everyone.”

Underlining the UK-India Trade Collaboration, Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom P Kumaran said, "The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement is now in force, and it is on us to turn that promise into reality and opportunity.”

The latest development comes amid ongoing bilateral cooperation between India and the UK in healthcare innovation, research and technology adoption. It follows the signing of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in July 2025, which is expected to support closer economic engagement, including opportunities for India's medical device sector.

In an earlier development, Union Minister Jitendra Singh and UK Minister Jonathan Reynolds inaugurated the BRIC-CDFD-ONT India Genomics Centre of Excellence in New Delhi. The initiative forms part of the broader India-UK Science and Innovation Cooperation framework, building on the India-UK Research and Innovation Memorandum of Understanding, the Technology Security Initiative, and India-UK Vision 2035. It aims to strengthen collaboration among research institutions, universities, industry, and innovators.

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