Shaping the Future - BDIA

Shaping the Future The Dental Industry Manifesto

The Dental Industry Manifesto The dental industry in the United Kingdom is a vital component in the £6bn dental sector, providing dental professionals with the highest quality devices, technology, materials and services.

£400 million

The annual value of the dental products and equipment market

30 million

The dental industry supports the treatment of over 30 million patients every 24 months

40 million

The number of Courses of Dental Treatment undertaken by dentists annually

In light of the result of the referendum of June 2016 to leave the EU the dental industry believes that positive and focussed action is needed by Government to effect this transition in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for the future of the country and for the dental health of the population. Leadership, clear objectives, investment and support from Government are all vital to ensure the highest quality oral health outcomes for patients and an efficient and sustainable future for the provision of dentistry in the UK. The BDIA, representing manufacturers and suppliers of dental products, services and technologies, is pleased to present this Dental Industry Manifesto to assist in this transitional process.

Priorities for Action 1 A favourable business environment 2 Investment in the nation’s oral health 3 Protecting patients 4 Investment in the NHS 5 Building a better future 6 Championing innovation

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A favourable business environment ‘To provide strong leadership, promote stability and conduct firm and proportionate negotiations to obtain positive outcomes to encourage the nation and business to prosper.’

• A fair deal – We call upon Government to engage positively and firmly in a

timely fashion in any negotiations with the EU and other nations to ensure that a favourable and sustainable business environment is created, providing easy market access for UK companies and the providers of goods and services into the UK from overseas.

• Continuity – We call upon Government to strive to deliver continuity to business whilst negotiations and discussions take place.

• Clarity on medical device regulation – Government should take the

opportunity to ensure that regulation is clear, proportionate and has a positive effect on domestic and international trade, adapting and adopting the best regulatory practices available worldwide.

• Cutting red tape – We call on Government to sponsor sensible,

proportionate domestic legislation, striking the right balance for business to ensure quality and safety, whilst also promoting innovation and boosting manufacturing, free from excessive regulatory burdens.

• Joined up thinking – Government has a significant opportunity to encourage a more joined-up approach to industry and its regulation, looking at cross departmental synergies, skills, education, export and fiscal support in a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to provide a culture supporting manufacture, enterprise and innovation.

• Financial assistance – Government fiscal policy must support UK

manufacturing, including SMEs, as well as incentivise innovation with mechanisms such as beneficial tax regimes for capital expenditure, research, and investment in workforce development.

• Route to market – We urge Government to continue to improve access to

public sector procurement for SMEs. This will ensure that the public sector has access to the most innovative products and services whilst growing the businesses that form the backbone of Britain’s manufacturing economy.

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Investing in the nation’s oral health ‘Healthy Funding for Good Oral Health - Government should take the opportunity of investing in preventive dentistry now, securing long term savings and ensuring significant advances in the nation’s oral health.’

• The importance of oral health - Government has the opportunity to make

significant savings in healthcare expenditure by investing wisely in the nation’s oral health now. A preventive approach to oral health can remove factors contributing to other serious conditions such as heart disease and allows for earlier treatment and better patient outcomes, thus contributing to sustainable and on-going cost savings for the NHS.

• Dental funding – The dental industry recommends a well-funded NHS

dentistry sector, provided by diverse dental practices, coupled with an intelligently funded, progressive prevention orientated ‘new’ Dental Contract, to include complex dentistry, as the foundation for the nation’s future oral health and well-being. Government should also recognise the significant role and contribution that private dental treatment contributes, whilst easing the burden on NHS funding requirements.

• Promoting oral health – Government has the opportunity to work through

the Department of Health, the NHS and bodies like Public Health England, alongside professional dental bodies and industry, to engage the public with strong oral health messaging, especially aimed at improving child oral health and reducing child hospital admissions for dental treatment.

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Protecting patients ‘Full state funding for the MHRA - We believe that the Government should provide the modest additional sums required to run the MHRA, rather than taxing industry.’

• Regulation and safety - The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory

Agency (MHRA) plays a vital and expanding role in patient, medicines and devices safety and regulation. This will grow significantly as the UK medical devices sector finds its place as a global player, outside of EU regulation. The MHRA must, therefore, play an important part in developing and implementing future regulatory strategy with industry and government, recognising the importance of device sales, innovation and patient outcomes, alongside export opportunities, and the importance of proportionate, risk based regulation.

• Legislative opportunity - There is an opportunity to maintain continuity with

EU regulation, but allow the UK to adapt and adopt the very best of global practices, for the proportionate, safe and effective regulation of dental and medical devices, whilst ensuring it is an easy step to do business with our European neighbours and the rest of the world. The principles of the ‘new’ Medical Device Regulations (MDR) can serve as an excellent model for future UK regulation, but there may be scope for tailoring elements to avoid overly prescriptive regulation and unintended consequences.

• Central support - We believe that full, direct Government funding of the

MHRA is the most efficient method of safeguarding patients and the medical devices industry, both of which could be jeopardised should additional costs be imposed on industry in the form of a ‘devices tax’. It is important for the public to have confidence that the regulator is independent from the pressures of industry and full Government funding would provide this reassurance.

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Investment in the NHS ‘Taking the opportunity to review and enhance NHS funding’

• Positive action – Government should take the opportunity to review and enhance NHS funding.

• Open for business – The NHS must demonstrate that it is open for business and a vehicle to drive economic growth for the country through its purchasing, promotion of innovation and world-class services.

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Building a better future ‘Getting the basics right – ways that Government can assist the dental industry in delivering healthier patients and a healthy economy.’

• Helping dentists invest in the future – We would like to see fiscal measures, such as tax incentives to encourage dental practices to invest in their equipment and refurbish surgeries to improve efficiency, patient outcomes and the diversity of quality dental provision across the UK, whether delivery is through NHS contracts or via private treatment.

• Export – Making the most of Government support – UK dental exports

would benefit significantly from enhanced targeted and robust support from Government. We specifically request additional funding for the highly successful Trade Show Access Programme (TAP) grants operated by UKTI, which enable dental SMEs to attend overseas trade shows and develop their export sales. TAP funding provides an extremely cost-effective way to increase UK dental exports, generating returns of several times the initial investment.

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Championing innovation ‘Creating the right environment – fostering innovation across the healthcare sector.’

• A culture of innovation – Government should facilitate innovation within the NHS through educating its management, healthcare and procurement professionals. NHS staff who value and strive towards innovation will deliver improvements that will benefit patients and industry, whilst also reducing costs.

• NHS procurement – We urge Government to encourage procurement

processes to recognise and nurture innovation. This will ensure that the NHS is able to benefit from the full range of developments in the dental industry and translate these into efficiency savings and improvements in patient care.

• Invest in technical education – We urge Government to continue to invest

heavily in scientific and technical education. Investment in academic institutions and activities to support industry, particularly innovative SMEs, will help maintain the UK’s status as a global leader in life sciences and boost exports.

• Financial support – Fiscal policy must support and incentivise innovation

through tax regimes, investment in research and support for private sector research organisations.

About the British Dental Industry Association www.bdia.org.uk Established in 1923, the British Dental Industry Association (BDIA) represents and supports manufacturers and suppliers of dental products, services and technologies. BDIA members gain access to a range of services designed to benefit them and promote the well-being of the industry as a whole and the profession gains the reassurance of dealing with like-minded individuals who are committed to providing a high quality standard of service.

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British Dental Industry Association Mineral Lane, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1NL T: 01494 782873 E: [email protected] W: www.bdia.org.uk Follow us @_BDIA_ Like us on Facebook – search British Dental Industry Association