Publication of A Common Understanding 2025

The Scottish Government has today published 'A Common Understanding 2025 – Working Together for the People of Scotland'. 

Today's publication 'A Common Understanding 2025 - Working Together for the People of Scotland' demonstrates the value of productive relationships between the pharmaceutical industry and other partners in Scotland and is also a toolkit to help create these relationships.

The ABPI worked with the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland in the creation of the document, which references the ABPI Code of Practice, and partnership working guidance elsewhere in the UK.

With the ‘triple helix’ of the NHS, academia, and the pharmaceutical industry working together, more can be delivered to improve care for people in Scotland than could be achieved by individual organisations working alone.

The practical elements feature:

• a 10-step framework for setting up joint working initiatives,
• useful templates such as a project initiation document
• case studies of successful NHS-industry partnerships
• information on governance requirements, transparency obligations, and legal considerations

Case studies from this document are also featured in the ABPI’s NHS-industry partnerships case study library.

Dr Amit Aggarwal, Medical Director at the ABPI said: “There are now scores of examples in Scotland where pharmaceutical companies and the NHS have been able to devise and run joint projects that improve the lives of patients.

“The Common Understanding is an important document that not only provides practical guidance for NHS and pharmaceutical teams when they want to work together, but also gives a level of reassurance that, when the circumstances are right, it is perfectly appropriate for people to share their different expertise to solve problems.”

Notes to Editors
[1] Read 'A Common Understanding 2025: Working together for the people of Scotland'.