A colleague from the past recently sent me a great article, he penned, on where the tax burden should lie for health prevention and wellness.
The article responds to the news that two US Senators are drafting legislation to encourage business to invest in a healthier workforce by providing them with tax breaks.
Reasonably, the articles’ authors suggest that tax breaks to the individual might be a more appropriate place to start.
Whilst this debate may be US centric doesn’t it have broader implications for western society?
Who is responsible for the health of the individual?
What role - should which - health industry stakeholder take in health prevention, wellness and treatment?
In particular how should Pharma………
In particular how should Pharma be positioned or what responsibility do they have in the question of health, wellness and treatment?
Am I Responsible for My Health?
Absolutely not! I am like most people totally irresponsible with their health – aren’t you?
As Australians say – “She’ll Be Right Mate!”
- Life has no end – doesn’t it?
- I will always be well – won’t I?
- Won’t the doctor, whom I trust, fix any health problems?
- If I just complete the treatment everything will be fine – won’t it?
- What’s all this extra ‘health management’ stuff I am meant to do to accompany my treatment – don’t I have a life to live?
- Why does the doctor blind me with jargon?
- Why does the doctor not have time to help me manage my condition?
Ok – I am feeling guilty let’s fix my ignorance – what do the web sources tell me?
Oh No – why is there so much information and more incomprehensible jargon and explanation?
Living in a ‘nanny state,’ as many of us do, I was educated not to be health responsible. Perhaps, like many, I am ‘wellness lazy’?
I am not part of the X and Y generations, palates, pump iron, run in this year’s marathon body-beautiful way of life.
Been there – done that! I wonder if they will think that way when they get ‘older’?
Doctors, complementary medicine practitioners, hospitals, pharmacists, pharmaceutical companies, etc, etc, isn’t that why I pay health insurance, taxes and exorbitant pharmaceutical prices?
Is A Change in Health Culture Possible?
Socio, economic, political, commercial debate aside is change in health culture possible?
Can we create a balance between the extremes of the US ‘I can’t afford the treatment’ situation and the ‘Your life isn’t in your hands it’s in their hands’ alternative?
If the locus of responsibility for health does not shift to the empowered, knowledgeable, financially capable individual what are the implications?
Will it take generations before the health and wellness paradigm shifts?
Has Pharma a Role?
Pharma is a business.
Social conscious and massaging the interface with Payers and Regulators aside - what direct commercial benefit does Pharma derive from a wellness culture unless they can charge for it?
Treatment Management, on the other hand, is a different question.
Is it not possible that three of the most significant issues for Pharma; Compliance, Generics and the shift to Evidence Based Pricing, could be significantly addressed through engaging, realistic and empowering Treatment Management Programs?
As opposed to the lip-service offerings Pharam currently makes in this arena.
Pharma has the unique opportunity to use digital technology to engage with patients.
Once engaged, couldn’t patient Treatment Management be truly practical and supportive on a daily basis?
Isn’t Pharma well placed to enter into partnerships with relevant third-party suppliers to deliver Treatment Management Programs that would make a realistic commercial difference?
Just think of the psychographics and market segmentation possibilities such a Pharma-Patient dialogue would make possible?
Where are the economics?
Where is the total re-think of Pharma Marketing that provides not only leadership in shifting the healthcare paradigm but also new commercial models?
Or is Pharma like the rest of us, Australians at Heart?
(Tomorrow’s Blog: Digital Pharma - A Question of Age? )
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