Strategic Advisor for Talent. Fuelling Scotland’s Scientific Breakthroughs. Connecting Ambitious Life Science SMEs with World-Class Talent.
I attended the Scotsman Life Science Conference on Thursday. It was lovely to meet with some of you and I look forward to the next event. I have some questions and thoughts. As a sector we smashed the 2025 target of £8B by an additional £2B but there is no mention of the quantitative impact Scottish innovation has helping X amount of people with specific medical conditions, saves government spending on blockbuster drugs by providing a cheaper more effective solutions or even reducing waiting times to see GPs or Specialists by introducing Scottish products and services. Yes, we want the industry to grow but where is the quantitative benefit on society Have we forgot the importance? My second point is that we exceeded our target as a nation with the trinity of private, academic and NHS yet the NHS is widely mentioned at not fulfilling its obligation(this is continually mentioned at results - don't shoot the messenger) yet academia and private industry appears to be evolving. Does anyone have ideas on how to change this? My third point is a potential solution (I think!). It feels when I walk about the streets and speak to people that we are just sick as a society. Yes! We have an ageing population however I feel our NHS isn't focusing on necessarily the right area. From my limited science knowledge I understand that the human genome has been mapped out so would it not make sense to perform a one time genetic test on a trial group and make the greatest data set globally over the next fifty - 80 years. By understanding and supplementing people within the group we could optimise people bodies, increase their healing capacity, potentially significantly reduce illness and save the NHS money by preventing illness through better health and compounded damage as a result of wait times and poor diagnosis. I feel such a trial could lead the way to a less sick society, save money, take weight off the waiting times and potentially free up some of this cash to focus on pushing more home grown products into the hospitals, reducing the politics and improving our capability further. At worst surely there would be private paying candidates willing to participate. In addition lets anonymise the data for Scotland and start selling global to finance the Health Service further. Please take on my comments from my layman perspective. I don't know what a genetic test would cost (or if available) however surely it is cheaper providing preventative measures than MRI's, endoscopy, surgery, countless GP trips and long term medication. Yes, we need more money investment in Scotland but a NHS that understand preventative medicine, can at least offer private genetic test(if not now in the future?) with a long term gain of continuous improvement and freeing up some cash. Again, I don't understand the politics in government and the NHS on theses matters so feel free to correct myself. Thoughts?
Strategic Advisor for Talent. Fuelling Scotland’s Scientific Breakthroughs. Connecting Ambitious Life Science SMEs with World-Class Talent.
Mark Cook Co-Chair of Scottish Life Science Indstry Group announces the sectors ambitious target to reach £25B in revenue by 2035. Richard Lochhead Minister of Business and Innovation urges us to aim high and continue the momentum from our good work so far. #ScotLifeSci24 #ScotlamdrocksinLifeSciences
