COVID-19: The pharmaceutical industry at the crossroads

VIENNA - June 10, 2020 - PRLog -- 37 experts of the Austrian health care system are already thinking further ahead than the next wave of infection. They see the limits of the health care system experienced during the Corona crisis and the reactions of the state as an opportunity to fundamentally improve smouldering deficiencies in our health care system. They have therefore published an anthology that presents this opinion in a well-founded and clear manner. Not only does it call for a rethinking of the planning of medicine supply and prevention measures, but also it presents opportunities, possibilities and approaches to solutions. The contribution of the Austrian Institute for Health Technology Assessment (AIHTA) sheds light on the research, production and pricing of drugs and calls for a new regulation of this commercially-driven sector.

The Corona crisis has brought to light many strengths, but also weaknesses of our health systems. It showed that systems based on strong public funding and management were initially successful in providing adequate protection for the sick and for the key heath care personnel, be it nursing staff or physicians. The fact that about EUR 8 billion of public funding for research on COVID-19 interventions was made available worldwide within a short period of time is also one of these strong points. At the same time, however, very fundamental weaknesses have become apparent, leading to the vulnerability of the population and their care. These issues are discussed in the book "Rethinking Health! Corona as a Chance for a Turning Point in Healthcare" [Wir denken Gesundheit neu! Corona als Chance für eine Zeitenwende im Gesundheitswesen] and discussed by 37 experts in a solution-oriented fashion. The Austrian Institute for Health Technology Assessment (AIHTA) addressed the central topics of drug research, production and pricing.

Sprenger, Martin and Martin Schriebl-Rümmele (eds.): Wir denken Gesundheit neu! Corona als Chance für eine Zeitenwende im Gesundheitswesen. Unteraichwald: Ampuls Verlag, 2020. ISBN 978-3-9519818-0-2

Austrian Institute for Health Technology Assessment

Priv. Doz. Dr. phil. Claudia Wild

Director

Garnisongasse 7/20

1090 Vienna

T +43 / 1 / 236 81 19-12

E claudia.wild@aihta.at
W http://www.aihta.at