Medicines for Society: our ambitions for Dutch patients (Guest blog)
19.04.22
A guest blog by the Dutch Association of Innovative Medicines (Vereniging Innovatieve Geneesmiddelen, VIG)
Approximately 11.5 million Dutch people use medicines every day to improve their quality of life, to be able to work and to care. Sometimes those medicines are even life-saving. This makes medicine the invisible wheel in our society. This illustrates the great responsibility of the pharmaceutical sector, but also the close relationship between society, companies, science and government.
Approximately 11.5 million Dutch people use medicines every day to improve their quality of life, to be able to work and to care. Sometimes those medicines are even life-saving. This makes medicine the invisible wheel in our society. This illustrates the great responsibility of the pharmaceutical sector, but also the close relationship between society, companies, science and government.
In the new interactive publication 'Medicines for society', the Dutch Association of Innovative Medicines (Vereniging Innovatieve Geneesmiddelen, VIG) shows the value of medicines for society and how the pharmaceutical sector contributes to this. The 'Medicines for society' monitor provides insight into current trends in the pharmaceutical sector and is based on public and independent data. For example, did you know that:
- Every euro invested in medicines generates 2 euros for society;
- The average expenditure on medicines per hospital patient has decreased by 15% in the past five years.
- The Netherlands exported 30.8 billion euros worth of medicines in 2020..
Besides 27 infographics on COVID-19, and themes about Better and Longer Life, Fast and Broad Access, the publication contains a number of personal stories of patients. Commenting on the publication Gerard Schouw, director VIG says, 'We show who we are, what we stand for and how we work'.
Many new treatments, but they need to reach patients faster
In the Netherlands, 9.9 million people have a chronic condition. That is 57% of the population. In combating chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, diabetes and lung disease, much progress has been made in recent decades. Medicines play an important role in this.
In the next two years, about 500 new medicines will come on the market, almost half of them for cancer and hematology. This stream of innovation is good news for patients, but the question is whether Dutch patients will benefit from it quickly. In other European countries, approved medicines reach patients much faster than they do here in the Netherlands.
- The Netherlands is last in line when it comes to the rapid prescription of new cancer therapies. This is evident from a study involving ten European countries shown in the “Medicines for Society” publication.
- Patients in the Netherlands are waiting longer and longer for new medicines. Each year, the minister places about 15 new drugs in the “lock” for price negotiations. As long as a drug remains in the “lock” - currently more than 500 days on average - patients do not have access.
Access the interactive publication here.
About us:
The Association of Innovative Medicines stands for a healthy future. We represent more than 40 innovative pharmaceutical companies that focus on research and development of new medicines. Together we work on solutions to make people better and to increase the quality of life. We make the medicines for tomorrow, for the treatment of diseases that are difficult or impossible to treat until now.