The numbers say that the health economy is worth around 3.3% of European GDP. In this sense, the pharmaceutical industry invests around 55 billion in Research & Development, with Italy investing 2 billion and being second in Europe in terms of production, albeit in the face of less than optimal performance in the old continent when it comes to innovative solutions.
These figures are enough to understand how important it is to make innovation accessible. The experts remembered this on the occasion of the event “Dialogues on Accessible Innovation – Innovaction”promoted by Adnkronos and GSK, with the patronage of Farmindustria.
Aim towards the goal
The Capitoline meeting brought together institutions, businesses and experts for a “multi-voiced” discussion on the future of the health economy and the crucial role of innovation that is sustainable and available to citizens. What is certain is that the choice goes beyond just the healthcare sector, touching on economic, industrial and geopolitical panoramas. The important thing is to overcome some gaps, keeping in mind that innovation in healthcare only produces value if it manages to transform itself into real access, that is, it offers prevention, diagnosis and treatments that reach people at the right time.
In this sense, “accessible innovation” means simultaneous advantages for the health of citizens and for the competitiveness of the country: reduction of the burden of disease, better quality of life, greater productivity and a boost to growth. The topic also takes on strategic importance in a rapidly changing global context. The pharmaceutical sector – dynamic and highly innovative – represents one of the most solid industrial assets for positioning Italy and Europe in international competition, also in light of the US-China technological and industrial duopoly. It is a sector capable of attracting investments, creating qualified employment and enhancing advanced supply chains, from research to production.
The value of health economics
The numbers confirm the centrality of the sector. In Europe, the health economy generates 1.5 trillion euros of added value and contributes 3.3% of European GDP. On the innovation front, pharmaceutical spending on Research & Development reaches 55 billion euros, with Europe among the main investment hubs:
- United Kingdom (10.2 billion)
- Germany (9.9 billion)
- Switzerland (9.2 billion)
- Italy (2.0 billion).
In this scenario, Italy confirms itself as a leading player: it is second in Europe after Germany, with 411 companies and 56 billion in production value, and an overall employment impact of up to 950,000 workers. In short: the sector operates and works, impacting the country’s development trajectory. Also because – as mentioned during the proceedings – 1 euro invested in health generates between 2 and 4 euros of return in GDP: investing in health means investing in the “Country System”.
What is certain is that innovation in health produces multiple and simultaneous effects. The first is the improvement of the general health of the population. The second concerns one of the great challenges of industrialized countries: demographic change. The lengthening of life and the increase in chronicity impose pressure on the sustainability of healthcare systems and, at the same time, risk compressing GDP through higher costs and lower productivity. Innovation – especially when it is accessible – instead helps to support active ageing, reduce hospitalizations and complications, contain long-term care and keep people healthy for longer.
The economic effect is direct: more productivity, greater competitiveness, more ability to attract foreign investments, particularly in knowledge-intensive sectors.
Designing the future
The need for a qualitative leap emerges from the Roman event: to evolve healthcare systems by taking advantage of the best experiences already experienced in different countries, and to use the new European Governance Framework as an opportunity to build more coherent and results-oriented policies.
Obviously, the need to define innovation and reward criteria that support the continuous development of research and industrial production in Italy and Europe also matters. A step considered decisive for attracting investments and consolidating production and scientific capacity, making Europe not just a market, but a global competitive hub.
Another issue concerns the organization: parts of the Health Service were designed for past needs and demographic conditions. Today, the arrival of new drugs and vaccines and their potential effects on health and the economy require a rethinking of pathways, services and management models, so that innovation truly becomes a factor of sustainability.
Finally, it should be remembered that sustainability is also measured over time. On the topic of access to sustainable innovation, a European comparison was called for. France is not the fastest country, but it is indicated as the most structured in guaranteeing access: access can be ensured in 80 days from the request, compared to an average of 527 days from EMA registration for other products. In Italy, the average time to access new drugs is 424 days, a figure that signals the need to accelerate and simplify.
In this context, GSK presents itself as a primary player, starting from the industrial contribution in our country: two research centers and two factories considered centers of excellence (in Siena and Parma), with 4,200 employees which become almost 9,000 employed including indirect and related industries. In 2024, GSK invested 324 million euros in production and research – approximately 8% of the total pharmaceutical investment in Italy – and 172 million in R&D alone, equal to 7.5% of the sector’s investment in this area. A third of the turnover is destined for exports. to 1,065 million euros. Furthermore, in 2024, GSK conducted 88 clinical studies in Italy.
