December 2008 Archives

Strategy One’s survey of consumers in ten markets around the world poses powerful challenges to healthcare companies, especially in emerging markets. It shows that consumers, even in countries like India and China where millions do not have access to modern healthcare, are socially-conscious – so socially-conscious, that they are willing to switch to brands they perceive to be more socially-responsible, even if it means having to dip deeper into their pockets.

The paradox of the power of digital in health is illuminated by three findings in the Health Engagement Barometer.

In today's WSJ Health Blog, Victoria Knight posted about how the recession will hurt the pharmaceutical industry and included a quote from Roche’s head of pharmaceuticals, William Burns, who said, “DTC advertising has been the worst decision for the drug...

Earlier this fall, when the credit crisis reached a tipping point and financial markets began to melt down, it felt oddly familiar to me. Not just because of the personal and societal impact the crisis would have, but because, like health, finance had an absurdly low L:L – ratio of life importance to literacy. Now, another industry is in crisis. As I observe, talk, worry, and learn about the plight of the US auto makers and workers, and the potential impact on us all, I’m struck by insights for health.

Relinquishing control is totally okay. Control is not always equal to success. Isn´t control just a pipe dream anyway? Are we controlling patients when they voice their opinions on the pharma industry’s commitment to their lives? Do we really have to aspire to control? No, we don´t.

Approximately one in five children in Korea is obese. More specifically, obesity rates of those aged 10-14 amongst males and female are 17.9% and 11.4%, respectively (Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2005 study). In the midst of rapid economic growth over the last 30 years, as evidenced by the country’s recent indoctrination as a developed country by the FTSE group, South Korea has become exposed to international cultures, and has consequently undergone a nutrition transition.

Since the first time I heard the concept “personalized medicine” more than a decade ago, I was intrigued. And it continues to receive more and more attention: Pharma companies such as Eli Lilly and Roche consider it a pillar of their R&D approaches; organizations that seek to advance the understanding and adoption of personalized medicine, such as Personalized Medicine Coalition, are springing up; and companies in the health care services industry are dedicating staff to the function and authoring papers on the subject, such as McKesson’s “Personalized Medicine and Healthcare IT: Supporting the Revolution in Human Health.” Even the Obama administration ("The president-elect has indicated his support for both advancing personalized medicine and increasing [research] funding," said Democratic Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy”) is thrusting energy behind it.