Titled Advancing Inward Investment into the UK Health Sector, the report argues that inward investment can help embed innovation, strengthen infrastructure, and support the long-term sustainability of the NHS. It calls for new frameworks to overcome barriers such as regulatory complexity, fragmented procurement, and workforce shortages.
The eight recommendations are:
- Create a central information repository to help overseas suppliers navigate the NHS.
- Develop a single ‘NHS Front Door’ to streamline engagement with foreign investors.
- Establish a central business development unit within the NHS to manage trade and investment.
- Enhance regulatory agility to attract MedTech and digital health innovation.
- Build a structured framework to ensure private sector investment delivers public benefit.
- Develop a comprehensive workforce strategy to support international practitioners.
- Simplify procurement processes across NHS organisations.
- Align inward investment with a UK health data strategy to unlock the value of NHS data assets.
Gerard Hanratty, head of Health and Life Sciences at Browne Jacobson, (pictured) said: “By leveraging its global reputation and expertise, the NHS can attract investment that improves services, benefits patients and the workforce, and ensures the system remains fit for the future.”
Steve Gardner, Managing director at Healthcare World, added: “Strategic inward investment is not privatisation. It is about unlocking innovation, modernising care, and building partnerships that align with NHS values.”
The whitepaper is based on two roundtable sessions with NHS leaders, policymakers, regulators, and private sector representatives.