Oliveira, TC; Barrenho, E; Vernet, A; Autio, E; Barlow, J; (2017) Developing a Global Healthcare Innovation Index. PIRU: Policy Innovation Research Unit: London, UK.

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Abstract

Our understanding of medicine is being revolutionised by the pace of science. But not all the potential innovations in life sciences and medical technology are taken up into everyday practice in healthcare, even when they are shown to be beneficial. For the poorest people in the world, many innovations are not accessible because they are either unaffordable or unsuitable for their health systems. Tackling this gap requires the development of appropriate and affordable health technologies and novel business models. In the more advanced health systems there is a disconnection between the effort on research and development (R&D) and how much of this makes it into mainstream healthcare practice. Even the most evidence-based and affordable innovations can fail or are only taken up patchily, whether we compare across countries, or between localities or health organisations within countries. And technological innovation can be a problem for those responsible for paying for health systems. New technologies often increase costs because they allow us to treat more people for a longer part of their lives. Yet the general view amongst politicians, managers and others involved in healthcare is that health systems across the world need new thinking. They are increasingly facing escalating demand from an ageing population and the growing incidence of chronic disease. Healthcare is consuming an ever-increasing share of gross domestic product (GDP). The search is on for ways of providing the best quality healthcare as affordably as possible. The health technology industries – pharmaceutical and biotechnology, medical devices, information technology and the built environment (design, engineering and construction) – drive much of the innovation that takes place in healthcare. They are very big business. Collectively these companies have global revenues in the order of USD 2 trillion a year, about a quarter of overall global spending on healthcare. But they too are experiencing a changing landscape – an evolving market for their products, a changing balance of power across health systems as governments and payers seek to control costs, hence pressure on their business models. Innovation is regarded by economists and politicians as one of the main drivers of economic growth. It helps to explain why some companies, regions and countries perform better than others in terms of higher productivity and income. For companies involved in the health technology sector, and governments in countries where they are located, there is concern to ensure that their business models are sustainable and continue to successfully deliver new products to the market.

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