Prices of medicines have gone down in the Netherlands for the last 20 years. The issue of pricing demonstrates how the different stakeholders in care keep each other as prisoner in the same context, rather than as co-stakeholder to the same goal: realizing better care to a lesser cost. Surely a provider of drugs can be hold at a distance to the other stakeholders, suggesting the pharma industry can be overpowered by payers, politicians or other stakeholders. It is a short sighted attitude. Innovation in care cannot do without close collaboration between stakeholder and a common way in dealing with costs and profits.

Health care trend of trends 2014?
What have been named as trends in health care development for 2014?
Reviewing several blogs, these I came to mention:
1. Financial concerns;
2. Patient empowerment;
3. Connected health, eHealth;
4. Redefining the health industry and
5. Data security.
Is that what it is? No, we should look at what “the” trend in health care development should be. See for that part 2.

Russian Conditions to the health care market – How could the industry adapt?
This spring, I was as lucky to be invited to the Russian Pharmaceutical Phorum, May 23rd, in St. Petersburg.
As there is a lot to develop in the Russian health care system, there are lots of opportunities how the health industry might help out. However, they need to change their view on approach of the market from sales to partner in care. Russian markets, however still growing, will be careful in spending money. And, when you only sell medicine, your business coincides with the price of your product. But when you work together with stakeholders to care for patients you might be a collaborator and your value will go beyond your product’s price.

Having witnessed the Dutch Health Care Reform (see Wikipedia), it is inspiring to review it to evaluate what processes and forces have initiated the development and formed its course.
Based upon our studies, we construed this presentation