Creating an “NHS front door” and a framework for international investment to deliver public benefits are among key recommendations in a new report that aims to make UK healthcare more attractive to overseas investors.
UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson and global healthcare consultancy Healthcare World have today published the white paper, Advancing Inward Investment into the UK Health Sector.
It sets out eight recommendations – spanning legal, procurement, data, workforce and business development issues – which could help to position the NHS as a premier destination for foreign direct investment.
Aligning with visions set out in recent government policy, including the 10 Year NHS Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan, it highlights how the UK can form meaningful partnerships to improve services, move from sickness to prevention, and integrate innovation into the health system.
It also suggests how to overcome key barriers, such as regulatory complexity and fragmented procurement, to fully realise these opportunities.
Gerard Hanratty, Head of Health and Life Sciences at Browne Jacobson, said: “By leveraging its global reputation, infrastructure and expertise, the NHS can attract investment to secure its long-term sustainability.
“Welcoming investment in research, infrastructure, digital health and clinical trials can help to embed innovation within the NHS and ensure the health system contributes to the government’s broader missions.
“Inward investment must be approached with care and responsibility, however. It is about more than funding – it is about building collaborations that enhance services, benefit patients and the workforce, and strengthen the NHS to ensure it is ‘fit for the future’.
“It is about creating value for the public while ensuring the NHS remains true to its founding principles.
“This report offers a timely opportunity to reassess and embrace the potential of inward investment for the NHS. The recommendations provide a practical roadmap for increasing inward investment into the UK healthcare sector in a mutually beneficial way. Encouraging
these partnerships will not only address the NHS’s immediate needs but also lay the foundations for long-term growth and self-sufficiency.”
The report makes eight recommendations. These cover strategies to attract inward investment from suppliers into the NHS and to enhance opportunities for inward investment in clinical service provision.
- Establish a comprehensive centralised repository of information to guide overseas suppliers on how to navigate the UK healthcare market and supply the NHS effectively.
- Develop a unified ‘NHS Front Door’ for investment to act as a single, centralised entry point for foreign investors to streamline engagement with the NHS.
- Develop a dedicated central business development unit within the NHS to consistently manage trade and investment conversations and bridge knowledge gaps in international commercial operations.
- Enhance regulatory agility to attract MedTech and digital health innovation with a focus on investment in the health sector.
- Establish a structured framework for international investment to ensure private sector investment delivers tangible public benefits.
- Develop a comprehensive healthcare workforce strategy that simplifies qualification recognition, ensures high professional standards, and supports cultural integration for international practitioners.
- Simplify NHS procurement processes between NHS organisations to attract and streamline investor engagement.
- Align inward investment with a UK health data strategy to unlock the value of NHS data assets and attract global investors.
Steve Gardner, Managing Director at Healthcare World, added: “The recommendations outlined in this report provide a comprehensive framework for attracting international investment in a way that strengthens the health system while ensuring the NHS remains true to its core mission: providing high-quality, equitable care to all.
“With bold aspirations and targeted actions, the NHS has the opportunity to transform its capacity and innovation potential, driving better outcomes for patients, empowering healthcare professionals, improving the prevention of ill health and securing the future of the healthcare system for generations to come.
“Strategic inward investment into the NHS is not about privatisation – it’s about unlocking innovation and modernising care. It offers the chance to build new models of care with international partners who share our values.”
The white paper was developed following two roundtable sessions. These brought together diverse stakeholders, including NHS leaders, policymakers, legal experts and representatives from the private sector, to examine the opportunities and challenges associated with attracting international investment in the UK healthcare system.
It features contributions from senior leaders at organisations including NHS England, NHS Confederation, Department for Business and Trade, General Medical Council International, Medilink, Fuller & Forbes Healthcare Group, The Learnery, Health Care First Partnership, Linea and Modality.
The report will be used for further discussions at events in the Middle East, including the Healthcare World Forums and WHX Dubai, to gain insights from investors and businesses based in the region about the opportunities and challenges they observe in the UK.
