Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he hopes a coronavirus vaccine rollout-inspired "blueprint" will help tackle the NHS's four "healthcare missions" of cancer, obesity, mental health and addiction. He has also announced more than £113 million in funding for research into cutting-edge treatments and technologies to help trigger a breakthrough.
An independent expert will lead each individual mission, each chosen by an expert panel that includes Dame Kate Bingham, who headed the successful vaccine taskforce. With obesity alone estimated to cost the health service £6.1 billion per year, ministers believe tackling the key challenges could save the NHS and the economy billions.
Sunak said: “The NHS faces real pressures, which is why we are investing over £100 million in the technologies and medicines of the future to address some of the biggest public health challenges facing our country. It is hugely welcome too that the highly successful vaccine taskforce, which procured millions of life-saving vaccines in record time during the pandemic, will now become a blueprint for how we harness the best talent and expertise from around the world and drive investment in research and development.”
