A national life sciences strategy: Have your say
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Roche recently teamed up with the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association to host a panel discussion on the need for a national life science strategy for Ireland.
Entitled, "A National Life Sciences Strategy: Have your say", the event included perspectives from experts across the healthcare industry in Ireland on the need to develop and implement a national life sciences strategy. Panellists at this event included:
David McCarthy, Head of Access, Roche Ireland
Caitriona Walsh, Country President and Managing Director, Novartis Ireland
Dr John O Neill, Head of Research Policy and Innovation, Department of Health
Dr Laura Brady, CEO, IPPOSI
Professor Willliam Gallagher, UCD School of Biomolecular & Biomedical Science
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There was widespread recognition among the panellists that a holistic National Life Science Strategy will drive health and wider socioeconomic benefits. This includes better health outcomes for patients; enhanced economic stability and growth and bolstering home grown talent and innovation. As Ireland prepares for EU Presidency at the end of 2026, developing and implementing a National Life Science Strategy demonstrates Ireland’s life science leadership and commitment to supporting competitiveness for the region.
Improving patient access to medicines
When we look at other jurisdictions, the impact of a cohesive strategic approach to the pharma and wider healthcare sector is obvious. According to the EFPIA Wait Indicator, Denmark, Sweden and the UK all have mature life science strategies and deliver rapid access to new medicines. Ireland is one of the slowest countries in Europe to access new medicines.
The economic impact of a national strategy can be very significant. A 2020 Damvad analytics report showed that strengthened framework conditions for the life sciences sector in Denmark will deliver an increase in exports of €100 billion over a ten year period to 2030. Denmark now leads Europein terms of the number of clinical trials conducted per capita.
The opportunity
The opportunity a Life Science Strategy for Ireland presents is clear. It is now time for the healthcare industry to consider how we can add momentum to the roll out of a National Life Science Strategy and leverage our collective voice.
The National Life Science Strategy: Have Your Say event served as an opportunity for life science leaders to come together, consider the opportunity of a strategy and what we can do collectively and individually to support the Government in making this strategy a reality.