Article published in Pharma Boardroom on how a new approach to the WHO’s Essential Medicines List is needed to ensure both the patients of today and of the future can access the medicines they need. https://pharmaboardroom.com/articles/the-whos-essential-medicines-list-changing-the-conversation/ #health #pharmaceutical #WHO #accesstomedicines #price #privatesector #EML

As if to remind us how intertwined politics, economics and health care are in 2019, the year begins with the second-worst Ebola outbreak in history in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during an election campaign, with the World Health Organization’s efforts to respond compromised by protests and a worsening security situation, and the announcement of another mega takeover in the life sciences industry. Global economy and politics This year will be significant because in

As delegates gathered at the Palais des Nations in Geneva this week for the 71st World Health Assembly I became increasingly convinced that there's a changing tone in the conversation among stakeholders about how to progress global health. Whether it was the clear spring air of the Swiss Alps, the various anniversaries being acknowledged, or just a new constructive approach being adopted by many, I came away more optimistic that we are making progress. Geneva can sometimes be

“Breaking an old business model is always going to require leaders to follow their instinct. There will always be persuasive reasons not to take a risk. But if you only do what worked in the past, you will wake up one day and find that you’ve been passed by” - Prof Clayton M. Christensen, Harvard Business School If it’s one thing that unites practically everyone across the health sector it’s that things need to change. Nobody I have met in the health sector in any country o

When I was a young economist starting my career in government many years ago I wasn't part of the 'in' crowd. I believed in a clever, forward-looking innovation and industrial policy. There were many things that governments couldn’t, and shouldn’t do, and that were better left to the private sector. But I did feel that governments could make a positive contribution to direction setting, cajoling, encouraging structural and cultural change, and building a better world in partn

As life sciences companies head into their annual strategic kick-off meetings for the year, spare a thought for their CEOs and senior execs. It’s a cliché these days to talk about ‘disruption’, but as we enter 2018 there are some fundamental shifts happening that are confronting business leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, as in many sectors. There’s already the litany of strategic challenges that have faced the industry for years, such as R&D productivity, the

Article published in Pharma Times on the need for greater inter-sectoral collaboration on global health goals can be found here. #health #SDGs #publicsector #privatesector