N UH are now playing directly in the backyard of the big 6 hearing aide manufacturers who have a turf to protect. NHS needs to service clients cheaper but doesn't want to expand budget Are they using catagorys to negotiuate big boys down or do they see innovation and value in N UH product Margins are a huge issue so will be interesting when numbers are done as NHS is a tough negotiater ultimately so even a good initial deal doesn't lock in future negotiations but for N uH to get scale ???
There is mixed feelings by government health care around the world about 3rd party prescription or devices as popular ones blow out budgets and if one is seem as fashionable and has other uses beyond exact medical need there is a grey area that govt don't like paying for. What may have been a private purchase is now on public purse and with NHS style systems it is across the board depending on internal classification of device and needs and not means tested. NHS should be rightfully worried that there will be a massive increase in hearing deficiency / loss etc by a generation previously never served who simply want earbuds but ifthey are using it as a tool to lower the margins and monopoly like pricing of big 6 hearing providers they may well come out winners if they force new pricing and innovation of devices.
I think many don't understand the NHS buys generation before last retail $5000 aides for a small price and has some feature turned off ( like blutooth etc) so there is a distinction be models offered and NHS purchasing power is massive. With replacement equiring old aides to be returned it doesn't cause a devalued 2nd hand market in aides etc
very interesting story and my largest worry is that N uh won't be well enough advised and good enough management to deal with such a large expansion and constant change forced by incumbant players .
The incumbents if they see market share changing or aware they are losing will take N uh out before it get legs or grind it into the dust with all the monopoly and deep pockets they have used to protect their market for 50 years.
Either puts N uh in play soonish or ...............
They also hav eto fund upscaling a etc so dilution on back of contract and then ability to deliver - lots of hurdles for a small young company
