Thoughts on Urology Awareness Month

Chris Whitehouse, policy consultant and medical technology policy and regulation expert atWhite House CommunicationsPresident of the Urology Trade Association and Governor of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, informs readers about Urology Awareness Month.

Last month was Urology Awareness Month (UAM), an annual campaign run by the Urology Foundation (TUF) to raise awareness of urological diseases, which make up some of the most common conditions in the UK. two of us will be affected by urological disease in our lifetime. Many of these conditions are unfortunately still taboo and can have a significant impact on an individual’s mental and emotional well-being, as well as their physical health. The theme of this year’s UAM was bladder health, encompassing urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections and bladder cancer.

Since 1995, TUF has worked with researchers, urologists and other healthcare professionals to find new ways to diagnose, treat and manage these conditions. Members of the Urology Trade Association (UTA) produce a range of urology products, including catheters, sheaths and ostomy care products, that make these conditions easier to manage. A key part of the work of both our organizations is ensuring that a broad range of stakeholders – including urology patients and their families – are involved in the policy decision-making process.

The urology sector depends on medical technologies to improve patient outcomes, but like other sectors, it faces increasing pressure to deliver new innovations that also provide value for money. Manufacturers also face a significant overhaul of the government’s regulation of medical devices: legislative changes via the Health and Care Act 2022 and the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021, regulatory challenges Brexit-related issues and differences with the EU regime have all forced medtech developers to adapt.

The changes also come against the backdrop of major changes within the NHS and discussions around its future, with the Government accelerating its efforts to promote innovation and boost the health and care sector. Recently, the Secretary of Health announced a new 30 million fund for Integrated Care Systems (ICS) to deploy innovative technologies. These conversations about how best to harness the power of technology will only intensify in the run-up to next year’s general election, with Labor already promising major changes to the NHS.

These ongoing challenges and opportunities inspired us to bring together the voices of policymakers, patients, clinicians and industry at our joint parliamentary reception in April. The central message of this event was clear: keep patient choice at the heart of NHS and medical technology reform.

We were delighted to hear a urologist, a patient and a representative from the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) new MedTech Directorate singing the same anthem when it came to this issue. However, experience has taught us that actions speak louder than words.

Ensuring patients have access to the right product, at the right price and in the right place was at the heart of the DHSC’s landmark medtech strategy, published in February. As representatives of medical device manufacturers and healthcare professionals in the sector, UTA and TUF will work with the Department to support this vision, but the voice of patients must be considered first and foremost as they are the only ones to be able to truly assess the impact that medical devices will have on their quality of life.

We are at a pivotal moment for medtech innovation and health care reform. The government must demonstrate that it is listening to the concerns shared by patients and industry by advancing policies that support the implementation of patient-centered care. If not now, then when?