Pandemic puts spotlight on healthtech start-ups

Healthtech start-ups that are helping to respond to the coronavirus crisis will be protected by a £1.25bn government support package so that they can continue to develop innovative products that have the potential to transform global healthcare.

Leeds healthtech companies have joined others across the country in working side by side with bigger companies to help provide new services and technology during the coronavirus pandemic.

The city which has 5% of the UK’s population, but 22% of the country’s digital health jobs, is the home of NHS Digital and 50 healthtech startups, based at the University of Leeds’ Nexus centre.

The rapid switch to digital communication and tools in the face of the crisis, is likely to have a profound impact on how quickly digital healthcare becomes part of the healthcare system in the next few years.

Leeds contribution to the national effort includes Emis Health, which is providing free video consultations to over 4,000 practices to help fight coronavirus and is working with NHS Digital to help vulnerable patients.

Caroline Dinenage, Minister of State for Digital, said: “Over the last month the UK’s healthtech sector has shown why it is a global leader, quickly using its expertise to develop practical solutions to help the government and the NHS with innovative products and services to respond to those in need. These new technologies will not only help in the here and now but they will also shape the future of healthcare in the UK and indeed across the world. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the startups and tech companies that have switched their entire focus to backing the national effort to tackle this health crisis.”