UK digital health centre opens in China

A digital health demonstration centre for UK companies has opened in China as part of efforts to promote the British healthcare sector overseas.

The ‘Healthcare is GREAT’ centre opened at Ningbo Number 2 Hospital in Zhejiang Province in June.

The centre is a collaborative project between the Zhejiang Health and Family Planning Commission, the Ningbo Number 2 Hospital, UK Trade & Investment China, and Healthcare UK, a government body set up to promote the UK healthcare sector overseas.

The centre will be open for the next nine months to showcase digital health technologies from leading UK companies, allowing visitors to observe, learn and interact with the companies and their products.

Services being demonstrated at the centre include telehealth, electronic records, medicines management and self-care online platforms for long-term conditions such as dementia.

BT Health, TPP and Grey Matters are among the companies displaying their products and services in the centre.

Brian Gallagher, UKTI China’s campaign strategy director for life sciences, said the centre is a “ground-breaking initiative” in China which could lead to more opportunities for the UK and China to collaborate in healthcare.

“I am confident that the demonstrator will go a long way towards strengthening the ties between UK and China’s healthcare industries, ultimately providing a foundation for a better healthcare system in both countries.”

Howard Lyons, Healthcare UK’s managing director, said the launch of the centre is a significant milestone in the collaboration between British health IT organisations and Zhejiang healthcare providers.

“I believe the benefits to be gained will lead to a step change in the quality of healthcare available to the citizens of China.

“We look forward to further successful collaborations in the coming year as part of the agreement signed between Zhejiang Health Bureau and Healthcare UK.”

The centre was opened during the 16th Zhejiang Trade and Investment Symposium.