Maeve McGrath
Head of Healthcare Innovation, Roche Ireland
An ageing population and rising healthcare costs are putting pressure on economies throughout the world, including here in Ireland. Medical innovation is the key to addressing this significant societal challenge.
New treatments for diseases with the highest societal burden, improved diagnostics and integrated care in the community will not only lead to improved health outcomes but also enhance our economic resilience. Indeed, the Draghi Report on the future of European competitiveness underscores that Europe’s ability to swiftly develop, produce and administer innovative vaccines was crucial in allowing the EU’s economic recovery. Medical innovation offers a way forward, but only if supported by consistent, long-term policy frameworks such as a National Life Science Strategy.
National Life Science Strategy
Global healthcare company Roche applauds the Irish Government’s commitment to deliver a National Life Science Strategy as a key opportunity to improve the health and wealth of the nation, reinforcing healthcare as a strategic economic pillar. “A truly holistic strategy will simultaneously benefit the economy, patients, the healthcare system, research community and broader society,” explains Maeve McGrath, Head of Healthcare Innovation, Roche Ireland.
“Denmark has shown what’s possible when a life sciences strategy is approached as a true national priority. Their model is driven by collaboration between multiple government departments and a public-private forum that includes industry, patient groups, academia and healthcare stakeholders, ensuring broad alignment and long-term commitment,” adds McGrath.
Roche is a world leader in medical
innovation and a key partner in
the Irish healthcare system.
Maintaining Ireland’s competitive focus
Ireland has historically positioned itself as a life science leader but has experienced a significant decline in clinical trial activity of late, particularly when compared to similar-sized EU countries. “Ireland has an incredible footprint of innovation; just look at the companies we have here from medtech to big tech and pharma, not to mention a vibrant startup community.
“A life science strategy would allow us to join the dots from bench to bedside and harness the significant intellectual capital that we have here. This is Ireland’s USP and an amazing opportunity to collaborate and capitalise on that power and potential to deliver a new era of healthcare for our current and future population. Such an approach would allow us to achieve stated ambitions, such as increasing access to clinical trials and providing faster access to medicines for Irish patients,” explains McGrath.
Partnering for enhanced impact
Roche is a world leader in medical innovation and a key partner in the Irish healthcare system. As a proud and active member of IPHA and HealthTech Ireland, a research partner to leading Irish academics, and a pioneer in establishing novel approaches to public-private partnerships in Ireland, Roche is ready to help Ireland develop a visionary Life Science strategy to bolster our economic resilience and ultimately deliver what patients need next.
