Innovative Therapies: Opportunities for Patients and the System

Europe stands at a pivotal moment, and the pharmaceutical sector is central to its future. The "Europe's Choice" campaign, championed by the industry, underscores the urgent need for the continent to make decisive choices about its healthcare trajectory and its standing in the global economy. As Bayer, we believe that "Health for all" is not just a slogan, but a fundamental driver for building stronger, more resilient societies and, consequently, a more competitive European Union.

The statistics for Poland are particularly stark. Patients here wait an average of over 700 days for access to innovative treatments after they have been registered. While Poland has made strides in aligning its drug reimbursement timelines with the EU average, this remaining gap is unacceptable. It represents not just a delay in care, but a significant loss of potential health benefits for our citizens. This situation demands a fundamental shift in how we perceive healthcare spending – moving from viewing it as a cost to recognizing it as a crucial investment.

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Health is an investment, not a cost – this is one of the key messages that resonated during the European Economic Congress. For too long, spending on healthcare has been perceived primarily as a cost to be contained, rather than a strategic investment in the future.

Western media often focuses on the economic output of the pharmaceutical industry, such as trade surpluses. While these are important, they don't fully capture the human impact. From our perspective in Poland, the critical issue is patient access. The lengthy delays mean that groundbreaking therapies, developed with significant investment and scientific effort, are not reaching those who need them most in a timely manner. This disconnect between innovation and accessibility is a uniquely Polish and broader Central European challenge that requires tailored solutions.

We must streamline bureaucratic processes and administrative hurdles that impede the swift introduction of medicines. Learning from other markets and implementing early access programs are vital steps. The narrative that health spending is merely a cost must be dismantled. Investing in health is investing in our people, our workforce, and our nation's future prosperity. "Europe's Choice" is about ensuring that Europe remains a leader in innovation, providing its citizens with the best possible care and securing its economic future.

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In Poland, patients wait an average of over 700 days for access to innovative therapies.