Eimear O’Leary
Director of Communications and Advocacy, IPHA
In the context of an increasingly complex and volatile geopolitical climate, Ireland must proactively position itself as a leader in life sciences to sustain economic growth and ensure resilience.
The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) is strongly advocating for the development and implementation of a holistic national Life Sciences Strategy, which will benefit patients and strengthen Ireland’s global competitiveness.
Why the Irish pharmaceutical industry is vital
Ireland’s pharmaceutical industry is central to the Irish life sciences sector, delivering innovative medicines and vaccines that are fundamental to the long-term health and wealth of the country. It is a cornerstone of the national economy, supporting over 50,000 jobs directly and contributing significantly to exports, tax revenues and regional development, with the pharmaceutical footprint dispersed throughout the country.
However, other countries are moving quickly to attract life sciences investment through targeted strategies, regulatory reforms and innovation incentives. Without a cohesive, forward-looking national strategy, Ireland risks losing its competitive edge.
Ireland’s pharmaceutical industry is
central to the Irish life sciences sector.
Urgent life sciences strategy
A national life sciences strategy should therefore prioritise the following:
- Policy alignment: Coordination across health, enterprise, education and environmental policies to create a stable, innovation-friendly environment.
- Investment in R&D: Strengthened support for basic and applied research, through R&D tax incentives to drive breakthrough innovations.
- Talent pipeline: Expansion of education and training programmes to address current and future skills needs, from biomanufacturing to data science.
- Regulatory excellence: Ensuring a predictable, agile regulatory system that enables rapid access to new medicines and technologies.
Given the critical role that life sciences play in public health, economic resilience and national innovation, IPHA urges the Irish Government to act with urgency.
Ensuring equitable national access to medicines
Fulfilling the programme for Government’s commitment to develop a national life sciences strategy will not only support continued inward investment but also foster domestic innovation, ensuring that Ireland remains a global hub for life sciences in the face of future challenges.
By actively exploring opportunities for new partnerships and initiatives in emerging life science areas, a national strategy will reinforce the link between a thriving industry, world-class research and manufacturing, enabling equitable access to medicines for patients in Ireland.
