Roche Launches European WifOR Study: Redefining Healthcare as an Investment

Held two weeks before Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on the 1st July, the event brought together representatives from healthcare administration, policy, and patient advocacy to discuss the relationship between population health and European competitiveness.

Health as an Economic Multiplier

The WifOR study analyses the assumption that public expenditure on innovative medicines is solely a cost to be contained. By evaluating the multi-year socioeconomic return on investment across three therapeutic areas—multiple sclerosis (MS), breast cancer, and retinal diseases—the research indicates that timely patient access can preserve workforce productivity and support national GDP.

Speaking at the launch, Mohammed Elghareeb, General Manager of Roche Ireland, noted the relevance of this macroeconomic data to current healthcare planning:

"The upcoming EU Council Presidency offers a timely platform to discuss how health system design influences economic resilience. Rather than viewing healthcare as a transactional cost, this research suggests we should evaluate its broader return. According to the report, expanding timely patient access across the three analyzed therapeutic areas alone could support up to €37.3 million annually in societal and economic value for Ireland."

Quantifying the Economic Impact

The WifOR report quantifies the localized economic value generated when chronic conditions are managed with early medical care:

• Workforce Participation (Multiple Sclerosis): Multiple sclerosis frequently affects individuals during their working lives. The report indicates that between 2017 and 2023, medical care for MS patients in Ireland supported €880 million in direct GDP contributions. Notably, 78% of this value came from preserving the active, paid-work productivity of individuals.

• Economic Contributions (Breast Cancer): Across Europe, the adoption of medical innovation for breast cancer patients reduced productivity losses, contributing a cumulative €1.7 billion to European GDP.

• Independence and Caregiving (Retinal Diseases): Chronic vision loss places a structural demand on state social systems and family caregivers. Expanding access to vision-preserving therapies over the next four years is projected to yield an economic return of €827 million in cumulative European GDP.

System Collaboration in Europe

Following the data presentation, a roundtable panel moderated by Padraic Ward, Head of Pharma International at Roche, discussed how to translate these findings into policy. The panel featured Mary Day, CEO of St. James’s Hospital, Oliver O’Connor, CEO of IPHA, and Laura Brady, CEO of IPPOSI.

The panelists discussed how Ireland can leverage these macroeconomic insights during its upcoming EU Council Presidency to champion healthcare competitiveness and innovation on the European stage. The discussion emphasized that addressing the innovation gap between Europe and global competitors requires collaborative, system-wide partnerships that deliver sustainable healthcare and faster, more meaningful impact for patients.

The full WifOR Institute report, "The Value of Investing in Innovative Medicines Across Europe," is available for download.