The panel experts, representing non-profit, advocacy and government groups, reached consensus around a few key areas for improvement, including more effective communication to consumers related to everything from drug information to patient-to-doctor relationships; improved IT infrastructure for healthcare systems; and enhanced efforts around patient safety to reduce adverse events. David Brennan added another item to the list that highlighted the importance of patient access to medicines. “Access concerns me,” he said, “especially in other countries and places where they limit access to drugs because of cost.” In many cases, access is inhibited only by lack of communication. “The gap between the introduction of a new medicine and the awareness that it’s available is enormous,” said Becky Cherney, President and CEO of the Florida Health Care Coalition. “The time between when a new treatment is available until it gets fully communicated to patients can sometimes be 14 years or more.” And contrary to some popular belief, pharmaceutical companies are not always seen as part of the problem in US healthcare. “Big Pharma and biotech have been great partners with the Florida Health Care Coalition,” Dr Cherney said. “We’ve done a lot of great things together.” The panel participants: - David Brennan, President & CEO, AstraZeneca (chair)
- Becky Cherney, Florida Health Care Coalition
- Scott Smith, Senior Fellow, Center for Outcomes and Evidence, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
- Michael Cohen, President & CEO, Institute for Safe Medication Practices
- Michael Barr, Vice President, Practice Advocacy and Improvement, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine
Published 12 July 2005 |