Innovation must reach patients promptly, says Roche Pharma leader

Patrick Eckert, the new head of Roche Pharma for Latin America, highlighted the critical importance of delivering innovative medicines to patients without delay, stating, "Time is life. A day or a month's delay can make a big difference for a patient." He stressed that accelerating access to innovative therapies is a top priority for the company in the region. Eckert noted that while Latin America has made progress in adopting new treatments, significant disparities in access persist, particularly for vulnerable populations. He described the situation as a "great feeling of injustice" when patients in Latin America must wait longer for innovations available elsewhere. Roche Pharma aims to reduce, and ideally eliminate, these waiting times by collaborating with regional health systems. Eckert believes the region is currently in a favorable position for change, with a growing ambition to bring innovation and increased openness to dialogue among governments, industry, and healthcare professionals. With over 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Eckert plans to build on existing strategies while questioning how to improve and expedite patient access to innovation. His priorities include developing new financing models, utilizing data for better health system planning, and leveraging technology to bridge access inequalities, asserting that better information leads to better decision-making for more sustainable health systems.

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Time is life. A day or a month's delay can make a big difference for a patient.