MRC welcomes research recognition in reforms
14 June 2011
The Medical Research Council (MRC) has welcomed the explicit emphasis on research laid out in the healthcare reforms announced today.
The reforms outline several special considerations that will help ensure that research funders, like the MRC, the Wellcome Trust and others, continue to lead the fight against the most significant health challenges of the day.
In particular, the MRC welcomed three key policy developments; a duty on the Secretary of State for Health to promote research; a duty on clinical commissioning groups to promote research and the use of evidence from research in treatments; and a commitment for a culture of research and development to be set in both the national NHS Commissioning Board (with oversight of local commissioning arrangements) and Public Health England. There is also a commitment that the costs of patients taking part in research funded by partners like the MRC will be met by the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups.
Professor Sir John Savill, MRC chief executive, said:
“The new commitments to research announced today are important. They give a clear sign that the Government recognises the value of research for improving the health and the economy of the UK. The Medical Research Council, as part of the wider research community of Research Councils UK, looks forward to the implementation of these principles.
“It is very important that the NHS can provide a supportive environment for research and an Ipsos MORI report published last week revealed that 97% of the public think the NHS should support research into new treatments. We also know from our own experience of running clinical trials and managing cohort studies that patients are open to taking part in research, and that this is often beneficial to their health. The NHS in the UK provides a unique opportunity as a great resource in which innovative research can be undertaken and used for patient benefit quickly. This commitment to research within the NHS structures is the latest evolution of the system which allows us to keep on thriving and making important breakthroughs.”
The independent NHS Future Forum report can be found at: http://healthandcare.dh.gov.uk/future-forum-report
