INTERVIEW
Health Comes First ANA GOVEDARICA Vice President Spokesperson of the Foreign Investors Council and Roche General Manager
During COVID-19 and in the post-COVID-19 world, better healthcare systems are more important than ever. The main thing that the state has to deal with in the period ahead is digitalisation and data. Furthermore, when it comes to the pharma industry, it is of great importance for the state to define its needs and plans as soon as possible, to show how they expect our help and support
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he issues of the economy and health have never before been connected so closely. With COVID-19 still lingering around and looming over us, we asked FIC Vice President Spokesperson and Roche General Manager Ana Govedarica about areas where the FIC could be of assistance to the Serbian Government in responding to the challenges of economic recovery as it relates to healthcare. “Investments in healthcare cannot be decreased despite expected economic challenges, on the contrary, they must be greater than ever,” says our interlocutor. “This pandemic has shown how important it is to have a resilient and efficient healthcare system, and how sensitive society is in the case that system doesn't function right. It is well known that additional investments to secure more efficient treatment result in serious savings. Analysis of even medium-developed countries has demonstrated that it is justified to invest in a brand new therapy, despite the initial costs perhaps seeming high. Simply, every investment in an efficient healthcare system yields returns to society through multiple benefits, and also in other places both within and beyond the healthcare system. A balance needs to 34
be established between investing in infrastructure and new therapies as soon as possible, especially because innovative medicines – along with the development of new flexible & dynamic financing models based on treatment outcomes – will improve patients' lives significantly. For example, if a healthcare fund only pays a producer for those medicines that resulted in an expected positive effect there is no risk to the payer. Moreover, investments should be directed towards the benefit for patients being the greatest.
► How satisfied are you with the progress achieved in the activities of the FIC working group with the Government of Serbia? What motivated you to include the health minister in consultations? – The FIC recognised the pharma industry as an important stakeholder in the healthcare system, and the Pharma Industry Committee was established as a result. The main aim of this sector-specific Committee is to promote necessary reforms to the health sector and health insurance, and to advocate for the full harmonisation of legislation with the EU and the
FOREIGN INVESTORS COUNCIL 2020
