As we enter the second half of 2025, Brevia Health has collected and analysed data on parliamentary discussions surrounding the leading diseases in the UK. From persistent concerns about Covid-19 to growing attention surrounding prostate cancer, the first six months of this year have been defined by both disease continuity and a change in parliamentary focus.
Which diseases get the most interest?
Based on parliamentary records, the following three conditions received the highest volume of mentions in the UK Parliament, during the first six months of 2025:
- Covid-19
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
- Ischaemic heart disease
Covid-19
Despite the formal end of the pandemic, Covid remains a dominant issue in UK Parliamentary discourse. During the first six months of 2025, there were over 1,500 mentions of Covid-19, making it the most discussed disease in the UK Parliament since 2020. So far this year, discussions regarding Covid have focussed on:
- Long Covid
- Vaccination
- NHS winter preparedness
- New SARS–CoV-2 variants
Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
Second to Covid-19, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease continues to draw sustained parliamentary attention, particularly during Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, which took place in June 2025. From January to June 2025, key themes of relevant discussions have included:
- Funding for dementia research
- Support for caregivers
- Early diagnosis and prevention pathways
Ischaemic Heart Disease
Cardiovascular health has also seen a noticeable rise in attention in the UK Parliament coming third in Brevia Health’s disease tracker. Notable areas of discussion include:
- Access to screening programmes
- Post-heart attack rehabilitation pathways
- Access to health services
What diseases are failing to get traction?
Whilst some conditions continue to dominate discussion, others remain underrepresented. The diseases with the lowest interest in Parliament in our tracker analysis during the first half of 2025, include:
- Diseases of the urinary system
- Oesophageal cancer
- Cardiac arrhythmias
This pattern reflects a consistent trend observed in previous years.
Which Cancers get the most interest in the UK Parliament?
Cancers have remained a focal point of parliamentary discussion in the first six months of 2025. The three types of cancer that have received the most mentions are:
- Breast cancer
- Blood cancer
- Prostate cancer
Breast and Blood Cancer
Both breast and blood cancer have consistently seen high levels of parliamentary interest. This sustained attention can be attributed to several key factors:
- Strong public campaigns and awareness months
- Focused debates around screening access and funding
Based on our data since 2020, breast cancer is mentioned more in Parliament than blood cancer despite the fact that more people die in the UK from blood cancer compared to breast cancer.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer has seen a notable rise in parliamentary interest since 2020. In the first half of 2025 alone, prostate cancer saw a significant increase compared to 2020 and 2021.
Key discussion points in relation to prostate cancer in 2025 include:
- Access to screening and health inequalities
- Diagnosis and prevention
- Treatment pathways
Conclusion
The first half of 2025 has reaffirmed longstanding disease priorities of UK parliamentarians while also introducing new areas of concern. Diseases like Covid-19, and dementia and Alzheimer’s disease continue to remain high in interest, while others still struggle to gain visibility in the policy space.
There are several health awareness events scheduled for the second half of 2025, including Movember, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and Urology Awareness Month. This may see a shift in parliamentary focus toward different diseases which we will report over the coming months.
Background to Brevia Health
Brevia Health is a public affairs and public relations agency that provides advice and support to organisations operating in the highly regulated UK healthcare sector. We advise companies that range from global pharmaceutical companies to innovative start-ups.
The consultancy brings together experts who have worked in senior roles at NICE, MHRA, Government Health teams, Opposition Health teams and in senior roles across industry. We use this rounded perspective to bring new thinking and well-developed solutions across a wide range of policy areas.
If you require assistance, please contact our health team at: contact@brevia.co.uk or call +44 (0) 207 091 1650.
