The global markets challenge the position of the pharmaceutical human businesses with different demands, like ways of pricing, patient orientation and ESG (environment, sustainability, and governance) to name a few. Some of these are kind of developments to which the industry has the competence to adapt easily, as history has witnessed.

What is new is the fact that the industry finds itself in an accumulation of characteristics acquired in its development since its origine. It has brought the industry in the current beneficial shape, its volume and routines of doing business. But that is up to now.

Prices of medicines have gone down in the Netherlands for the last 20 years. The issue of pricing demonstrates how the different stakeholders in care keep each other as prisoner in the same context, rather than as co-stakeholder to the same goal: realizing better care to a lesser cost. Surely a provider of drugs can be hold at a distance to the other stakeholders, suggesting the pharma industry can be overpowered by payers, politicians or other stakeholders. It is a short sighted attitude. Innovation in care cannot do without close collaboration between stakeholder and a common way in dealing with costs and profits.

Health care trend of trends 2014?
What have been named as trends in health care development for 2014?
Reviewing several blogs, these I came to mention:
1. Financial concerns;
2. Patient empowerment;
3. Connected health, eHealth;
4. Redefining the health industry and
5. Data security.
Is that what it is? No, we should look at what “the” trend in health care development should be. See for that part 2.

Russian Conditions to the health care market – How could the industry adapt?
This spring, I was as lucky to be invited to the Russian Pharmaceutical Phorum, May 23rd, in St. Petersburg.
As there is a lot to develop in the Russian health care system, there are lots of opportunities how the health industry might help out. However, they need to change their view on approach of the market from sales to partner in care. Russian markets, however still growing, will be careful in spending money. And, when you only sell medicine, your business coincides with the price of your product. But when you work together with stakeholders to care for patients you might be a collaborator and your value will go beyond your product’s price.

It is not an easy task to change pharma’s market approach. Ever since 2002, product oriented detaling has been grown into a firmly standardized routine for all pharma companies. But markets have changed in the meantime and have become different by structure, reimbursement and price. Avoiding the commodity trap is challenging. Here is a short review of how we changed in the Netherlands and put customer first.