Engaging in Conversations About Public Health Priorities and How to Respond to Them
Coming from academic medical practice and biomedical research, I
spent the last 12 years in the pharmaceutical industry. During this
period, there has been a significant shift in the forces that drive the
direction of clinical research and development. The result is an
increased focus on developing markets that present more diverse and
globally prevalent gaps in disease treatment.
Some of these changes are driven by economic globalization, which has expanded the market for new treatment modalities. There has also been an increase in the social priority given to global health needs, as well as the level of resources that non-governmental organizations bring to advocating on behalf of these needs. In addition, the cost burden of healthcare in general, and medicines and other health technologies in particular, have become a significant focus for health ministries and health insurers, leading to the implementation of measures designed to influence the market for these technologies, with a goal to balance cost and therapeutic effectiveness.
As a result of these fundamental changes in the global healthcare drivers, the pharma industry, as well as other stakeholders, are by necessity becoming more engaged in a conversation about public health priorities, and how to respond to them. I am intrigued personally by the challenge of bringing governments, private industry, and healthcare providers together to jointly address healthcare needs in a way that both delivers measurable value to patients and makes the best use of limited healthcare resources and delivery channels. An important first step is for all stakeholders to see this challenge as a shared responsibility transcending their individual priorities, and to embrace working jointly as enabling of their own interests.
An aligned and cooperative approach of public and private stakeholders at all levels of healthcare development and delivery presents the best possibility to achieve meaningful and sustainable improvement in the health and well being of populations with unmet medical needs. Such an approach can only be realized through a compelling vision of common purpose to achieve this.
Some of these changes are driven by economic globalization, which has expanded the market for new treatment modalities. There has also been an increase in the social priority given to global health needs, as well as the level of resources that non-governmental organizations bring to advocating on behalf of these needs. In addition, the cost burden of healthcare in general, and medicines and other health technologies in particular, have become a significant focus for health ministries and health insurers, leading to the implementation of measures designed to influence the market for these technologies, with a goal to balance cost and therapeutic effectiveness.
As a result of these fundamental changes in the global healthcare drivers, the pharma industry, as well as other stakeholders, are by necessity becoming more engaged in a conversation about public health priorities, and how to respond to them. I am intrigued personally by the challenge of bringing governments, private industry, and healthcare providers together to jointly address healthcare needs in a way that both delivers measurable value to patients and makes the best use of limited healthcare resources and delivery channels. An important first step is for all stakeholders to see this challenge as a shared responsibility transcending their individual priorities, and to embrace working jointly as enabling of their own interests.
An aligned and cooperative approach of public and private stakeholders at all levels of healthcare development and delivery presents the best possibility to achieve meaningful and sustainable improvement in the health and well being of populations with unmet medical needs. Such an approach can only be realized through a compelling vision of common purpose to achieve this.
