Digital healthcare in the UK
69,3 M
inhabitants (ONS, 2024)
10,9 %
of GDP for the healthcare sector in 2023 (World Bank)
38,5 M
of NHS App users (September 2025, NHS England)
A decentralized healthcare system reflecting different national characteristics
The UK benefits from a public health system, the National Health Service (NHS), based on a public funding model and universal, free access to care for all residents, while granting a great deal of autonomy to its four devolved nations. The England, the Scotland, the Wales and the Northern Ireland thus have their own Departments of Health, all funded by the same means: taxation.
The priority objectives of the NHS in England are:
- Improving health outcomes and services;
- Reducing pressure on front-line services;
- Reducing inequalities, linked to life expectancy, access to care, availability of healthcare professionals or ethnicity.
Digital is a key element of the NHS England’s 10 Year Health Plan and is a central pillar of the transformation agenda’s three objectives:
- From hospital to community – more care on people’s doorsteps and in their homes
- From analogue to digital: new technology will liberate staff from admin and allow people to manage their care as easily as they bank or shop online
- From sickness to prevention: reach patients earlier and make the healthy choice the default option.
In addition, the UK Parliament passed legislation in 2018 to harmonize data protection standards with the EU, implementing the RGPD in the UK. In particular, this legislation guarantees the protection of health data. In June 2025 UK parliament passed the Data (Use and Access) Act which regulates the access of data from connected health products and services.
UK government supports MedTech sector
In 2023, the UK launched a new medical technology strategy. The strategy aims to support the MedTech sector and ensure that the healthcare system can access safe, effective and innovative medical technologies for patients.
The "NHS app" enables citizens to access a variety of services, including ordering repeat prescriptions, choosing a pharmacy from which to collect them, booking and managing appointments or consulting their medical records, among other services. The NHS App is the digital front door for managing appointments and care pathways, including NHS‑ covered treatment by private providers to help cut waiting lists.
How do I access the UK digital market?
1. Register with the MHRA
Registration with theMedicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is required, but does not constitute certification:
You can also consult the guide to registering your medical device.
2. Obtain CE or UKCA marking
Since Brexit comes into force in 2021, European regulations on medical devices no longer apply in Great Britain. However, the marquage CE will be valid until 2028 or 2030, depending on the class granted under Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices and EU regulations.
The "UKCA" (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is the new UK conformity marking used for medical devices intended for markets in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). However, this marking is not recognized in Northern Ireland, so products intended for this market require CE marking for sale.
3. Designate a “UK Responsible Person”
If your medical device is not manufactured in the UK, it is necessary to designate a "Responsible Person" based in the UK. The responsible person will then assume the manufacturer's responsibilities for registering the device with the MHRA.
Northern Ireland specific: For non-UK manufacturers, it may be necessary to appoint a UK Responsible person based in Northern Ireland.
4. Get in touch with expert companies
MedTech UK, a medical device distribution company, is a major collaborator when it comes to supplying digital devices to the UK market. This distribution company sells medical technology tools from international suppliers. It will be able to put you in touch with a network of entrepreneurs in the digital health sector.
National authorities
In charge of medical device assessment and legislation.
Innovation hubs and clusters
They bring together and facilitate the incubation of new technologies.
Training
Non-exhaustive list of universities and their groups offering training and support for digital health innovations.
Events for e-health entrepreneurs
Exporting your innovation to the United Kingdom
The healthcare system in the United Kingdom is primarily based on the NHS, a cornerstone of the national public service that organizes healthcare delivery for all patients in England as well as in each of the UK’s constituent nations. The National Health Service structures healthcare around a coordinated network of doctors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals to ensure equitable access to care. Patients typically enter the system through general practitioners (GPs), who play a central role in care coordination and continuity. This organization differs significantly from the French healthcare system, where social security and health insurance arrangements shape healthcare services and patient pathways in a different way.
NHS England oversees a large part of health policy implementation in England, ensuring the quality of services and the overall performance of the healthcare system. The National Health Service seeks to maintain consistent standards of care across the country despite persistent healthcare challenges. Pressure on hospitals, growing waiting lists, and the increasing need for long-term care place significant demands on healthcare professionals and services. In this context, the UK government regularly adjusts its healthcare policies to optimize the organization of the NHS and respond to the evolving needs of both patients and healthcare professionals.
Digital transformation is a major driver of change within the UK healthcare system. The integration of digital solutions improves coordination between physicians, hospitals, and healthcare professionals while enhancing patient monitoring and follow-up. Healthcare services increasingly rely on these innovations to streamline care pathways, reduce waiting times, and improve the quality of care. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) supports these developments by evaluating medical devices and health technologies to ensure their effectiveness and successful integration into the National Health Service.
A comparison with France highlights two complementary healthcare models in Europe. The United Kingdom favors a centralized public healthcare system, whereas France relies on a combination of national health insurance and a mixed healthcare provision model. This difference influences the organization of services, the role of physicians, and the management of hospitals. The National Health Service remains an international benchmark for its ability to coordinate healthcare services on a large scale, despite challenges related to resource management, growing patient needs, and the ongoing evolution of the healthcare system.
Within this demanding environment, G_NIUS supports healthcare stakeholders seeking to establish or expand their presence in the United Kingdom. By providing a deep understanding of the healthcare system, NHS operations, and the expectations of healthcare professionals, G_NIUS facilitates access to NHS services and opportunities. This support helps organizations adapt digital health solutions to patient needs, navigate public policy requirements, and collaborate effectively with physicians, hospitals, and healthcare professionals, while creating meaningful synergies with healthcare challenges and opportunities observed in France and across all nations of the United Kingdom.