The value of Academic Health Science Centres for UK medicine.

摘要

The most valuable asset that we possess is good health. Without it, individuals struggle to take advantage of education, and nations find it harder to develop, compete, and build a cohesive society. Therefore it should go without saying that, in the UK, medical research and health-care delivery is a national priority. For research, this is certainly true. Biomedical research in the UK is second in impact and quality only to that in the USA.1 However, when it comes to turning this research into better therapies and outcomes for patients, we slide down world-league tables dramatically. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ranked the UK 19th out for 27 countries for mortality from stroke. The Commonwealth Fund has ranked the UK as having some of the lowest 5-year survival rates for cancer,and as 16th out of 19 for overall mortality amenable to health care.