Promoting and smartly investing in health drives well-being and prosperity: our latest peer-reviewed publication in The Lancet Oncology and our international research projects from Europe to Latin America prove it.
In this edition of WifOR Insights: Health I am pleased to share that our research was published in The Lancet Oncology Commission report titled “Radiotherapy and theranostics: a Lancet Oncology Commission” this month.
Additionally, we had the opportunity to advance WifOR’s mission of promoting better health for all on numerous prominent stages— from the EU to Latin America. We had the chance to present the social and economic impact of different diseases and raise awareness on the value of health investments not only for individual well-being, but also the economy and society as a whole.
Read all about it below!
Best wishes,
$725 M in economic potential from expanded cancer treatment access
WifOR’s research was published in The Lancet Oncology as part of the Lancet Oncology Commission report “Radiotherapy and theranostics: a Lancet Oncology Commission.” In this peer-reviewed analysis, we calculated that increasing access to [¹⁷⁷Lu]PSMA therapy for eligible patients could generate $725 million in economic potential. This impact is projected across nine selected countries between 2023 and 2029.
The publication in one of the world’s leading oncology journals is a meaningful step in shifting the general paradigm from viewing health investments as a cost factor to acknowledging their substantial social and economic returns on investment.
Read our analysis featured in the report “Radiotherapy and Theranostics: A Lancet Oncology Commission” here.
Romania’s path to better health and economic growth
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the event "Ensuring Smart Investments: Achieving Financial Sustainability in the Healthcare System" hosted by AmCham Romania. In the panel we discussed the challenges and opportunities for improving healthcare investments across Europe.
Romania faces critical issues, including the lowest healthcare spending per capita in the EU, healthcare worker shortages, and delayed access to innovative medicines. Addressing these gaps is crucial for advancing health outcomes and sustainable development. Strategic healthcare investments can yield significant economic benefits, with Romania having the potential to generate up to $4 in GDP for every $1 invested in health.
At WifOR Institute we don’t view health as a cost, but rather as an integral investment in the well-being and productivity of society. Learn more about our health economics research and studies on our website.
The pivotal role of health investments for Latin America's development
Earlier this month, WifOR Institute’s CEO and co-founder Prof. Dr. Dennis Ostwald traveled to Latin America to present our latest research on the socioeconomic impact of diseases. He presented it in several events in the last couple of months including a workshop in Colombia, Innovation Day in Brazil, and a journalism seminar in Mexico.
This study, commissioned by FIFARMA, highlights the impact in productivity and development that diseases have in eight Latin American countries. The diseases include migraine, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, neoplasms, ischemic heart disease, lower respiratory infections, and breast cancer.
Our research found that the socioeconomic burden of these diseases represented approximately 3.9% of each country's GDP in 2022, underlining the need to start viewing health as an investment delivering returns in well-being, innovation, and resilient growth.
Interested in learning more about this study? Download it here.
Addressing Obesity Stigma and the Benefits of Health Investments
In recent interviews with Neue Berliner Redaktionsgesellschaft and Süddeutsche Zeitung, I discussed the economic impact of investing in individual health, focusing on the challenges faced by people suffering from obesity. Despite being recognized as a disease by the WHO since 1997, individuals with obesity continue to face stigma, often being unfairly labeled as responsible for their condition. This stigma has serious mental health implications, such as anxiety and depression, which are often underestimated.
New weight-loss medications like Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Ozempic offer less invasive alternatives to bariatric surgery, providing both medical and economic benefits that outweigh their costs. Instead of demonizing these treatments, we should integrate them into a holistic health strategy. Tackling the root causes of health issues requires a strong emphasis on preventive strategies.
A comprehensive approach that incorporates both medical support and preventive measures is essential for enhancing individual health while also contributing to economic growth.
Interested in reading about the social costs of disease-related stigmatization in Germany? You can find the most recent article on NBR’s regional newspapers, or here (paid).
Meet me at these upcoming events:
AmCham Event – Transforming Cancer Care Together – 15th & 16th October
Third AmCham Healthcare Conference: Driving Societal Value through Healthcare – 7th November
ISPOR Europe 2024 – 17th to 20th November
European Health Summit 2024 – 3rd & 4th December
Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest updates regarding these events!
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