Improving the UK's health data capability & the industry's access to data
Over the last thirty years or so, advances in digital technology have enabled exponential growth in the amount of data we can collect, store, manage, analyse and share.
Health data is playing an increasingly important role in the discovery and development of new medicines. Around 40 new medicines are approved for use each year, helping people extend and improve their daily lives.
Health data is collected from patients and members of the public, and – in order for it to be used to support the development of new treatments – patients and members of the public must have trust and confidence that their personal information will be used only in the way that they choose, it is securely protected when it is used, and that its use will be carefully governed.
The biopharmaceutical industry engages in a variety of ways with UK health data.