Blair and Hague call for sale of NHS patient data to aid medical research

25/01/2024 | The Times

Former UK political rivals Tony Blair and Lord William Hague argue that commercial access to medical records should be granted to aid the development of cutting-edge treatments. The former Labour Prime Minister and ex-Conservative leader have recommended more than 40 regulatory and state support measures to assist the UK in leading the growth of biotechnology and artificial intelligence. In a report published in The Times (£), they emphasized the importance of a "national purpose" to support new discoveries that will facilitate economic growth. The report suggests that the NHS's data is a valuable resource and calls for the creation of a separate company to provide commercial access to records. This company would ensure privacy is strictly maintained while offering significant benefits to research, public health, and patient treatment.

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Medical records, NHS healthcare data, patient record

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