Press release: Interpharma – 90 years of innovation and commitment to patients in Switzerland

On the occasion of today’s Day of the Pharmaceutical Industry 2023, Interpharma launched its 90th anniversary year. The association of Switzerland’s research-based pharmaceutical industry represents tireless commitment as well as consistent innovation for the benefit of patients. Switzerland’s success story as a pharmaceutical hub is one that should be continued. In the presence of President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset, keynote speaker Professor Elizabeth Teisberg and numerous high-profile guests, Interpharma looked at both current and future challenges as well as opportunities for the healthcare sector and Switzerland as a location. The awareness campaign “We keep researching” was also newly launched in order to raise awareness of the pharmaceutical industry’s contribution to society.

Research-based pharmaceutical companies are the driving force behind Switzerland as a hub for business and innovation: they contribute significantly to value creation, prosperity and a broad range of employment, and represent research at a global level. With a 42% share of total exports, the research-based pharmaceutical industry constitutes Switzerland’s most important export sector by far, employing nearly 250,000 people either directly or indirectly in this country and investing nearly CHF 9 billion a year in Swiss research and development. Above all though, the research-based pharmaceutical companies create significant added value for countless patients: numerous innovations have revolutionized the treatment of highly diverse diseases, ranging from diabetes and HIV to cancer, in recent years and decades. However, there is still much do – and we continue to research.

We keep researching

For the anniversary year, the organization has relaunched the #wekeepresearching campaign: brief videos highlight the long-term developments in technology. The texts “From innovation to primary care” accompany medical breakthroughs of the past which still bring great benefit to patients today. Visit the campaign hub, read fascinating stories and learn interesting background information (https://research-continues.ch/).

René Buholzer, CEO of Interpharma, emphasized that this success story must be continued. At the same time, however, the challenges facing Switzerland as a hub are on the rise. In particular, the bilateral relationship between Switzerland and the EU as well as the lack of progress in the digitization of the healthcare system are issues that, according to Buholzer, must urgently be addressed.

Value-based healthcare: the patient at the center of healthcare

In her keynote speech and the panel discussion that followed, the renowned American healthcare economist Professor Elizabeth Teisberg and other guests shed light on the benefits for healthcare of the “value-based healthcare” approach developed together with Michael E. Porter. The objective of this approach is to ensure that each patient receives the best possible care, tailored to their specific needs and goals, while reducing costs in the healthcare system. Professor Teisberg emphasized that greater integration of patients and their needs into the treatment process would also be a promising approach for the Swiss healthcare system.

From Interpharma’s point of view, the value-based healthcare model can decisively contribute to making the Swiss healthcare system more fit for the future. Research-based pharmaceutical companies in Switzerland have been advocating for patient-centric, benefit-oriented, innovation-friendly and sustainably financed healthcare for many years and will continue to do so.

90 years of Interpharma – we keep researching.