This is not a cliché, but the truest statement there is: The most important thing is health, without health there is nothing. That is why the healthcare sector is of particular importance in the economic and social system of all countries, and its challenges, i.e. the challenges facing the healthcare sector, concern us all.
In this article we will look at the 7 major challenges facing the sector in the future, aspects that were discussed at the I Foro Salud of El Economista, an event held in Madrid in the middle of last year, and which you can access in full at the end of this article.
The 7 challenges of the present and future in the healthcare sector
In this event, in which Megablok was present, very relevant aspects were debated, which involved challenges such as:
1: Access to innovation in the pharmaceutical sector
This panel discussed the situation of drug prices and financing, solutions to improve the process and the convenience or otherwise of incorporating Patient Associations and/or Scientific Societies into the process.
We highlight conclusions such as:
“We need to make the system more flexible and be more agile in decision making”.
“There is a problem of access to innovation in our country. Spain invests 1,000 million euros more in obtaining drugs, but everyone is dissatisfied”.
“You have to put yourself in the patients' shoes. The current situation can be improved”.
2: The progression of healthcare technology
This round table discussion dealt with the progress of the healthcare sector in terms of innovation, public procurement in Spain, the Inveat Plan and payment of suppliers.
Some key conclusions were:
“The technology is there, but we lack will, courage, generosity and determination.”
“It is not price, it is value. Technological investment in the healthcare sector in our country is a necessity”.
3: The role of private healthcare
A talk on the rise of private insurance, the legislation surrounding private healthcare and the lack of professionals, among other aspects.
Some very important conclusions were reached, such as:
“The public sector must see the private sector as an ally, not as an enemy”.
“We need to homologate foreign qualifications, 80,000 doctors are going to retire and the replacement rate is not at all promising”.
“We must change the way we attend to patients by better managing time with technology.”
4: Pharmaceutical distribution
What are its main challenges? How to deal with shortages? What is the role of Cofares?
Some of the highlights were:
“55% of the distribution routes are loss-making, but it is compensated with other more profitable routes such as sending other products to hospitals and health centers.”
“There is no shortage of medicines. Pharmacies must be provided with the capacity to dispense medicines without going through the doctor”.
5: Innovation in advanced therapies
Innovation through advanced therapies is one of the health challenges of the future as a path with great potential.
At the Health Forum, conclusions were drawn in this respect, such as the following:
“A cured patient means less expenditure and greater contribution to society”.
“More will be invested in innovation in the next 5 years than in the last 100”.
6: The role of Artificial Intelligence in medical research
Artificial Intelligence no longer escapes any corner of society. What will its contribution to the healthcare sector be?
Some of the highlights of this conversation were:
“AI has to allow us to bring the best drug to the patient.”
“We are moving towards more personalized precision medicine for patients with more personal follow-up.”
7: Disease prevention and vaccines
The last of the challenges facing the health sector has to do with disease prevention and the role played by vaccines in all this, with the controversy they have generated in recent years due to the COVID pandemic.
In relation to this, we can highlight conclusions such as:
“The cost effectiveness of the vaccine is very positive with returns of up to €4 for every euro invested”.
“In the last 50 years of vaccination, 150 million deaths have been avoided, especially among children”.
As we can see, we are at a time of great change and progress in the healthcare sector. If you would like to know all the details and conclusions drawn at the Health Forum, you can download the report free of charge here (SPANISH VERSION):
DOWNLOAD REPORT
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