Novartis, Bayer and Allergan are among the founding members of a new UK industry group that unites pharma and medical technology companies with an interest in eye health.
The Industry Vision Group (IVG) has been set up to improve the prioritisation of eye health by NHS policy makers and commissioners and to improve access to care, treatment and services for patients.
The IVG has launched with a seven-strong membership drawn from pharma and medical technology companies with an interest in eye health. Its founding membership is Alcon, Alimera, Allergan, Bausch + Lomb, Bayer, Novartis and Spectrum Thea.
Richard Marsh, head of market access at Allergan and IVG chairman, said: “The IVG believes that the NHS should give even greater priority to eye care and it is never more important to make this case than at a time when all services are under pressure.
“We will work both together as companies, and with other organisations representing both patients and practitioners, to ensure that the NHS has a vision for vision that embraces all the potential that medicine and medical technology can bring.”
Leading the group alongside Marsh will be Novartis’ Helen Llewellyn, who will serve as the IVG’s Vice-Chair, and the Group’s secretariat will be provided by communications consultancy JMC Partners.
The Group, which is open to all pharma and med tech companies with an interest in eye health, is currently developing its work programme and will look to collaborate with the eye health community to make progress towards its specific aims.