FutureHealth Basel is the leading discussion forum on the most important challenges and innovations in healthcare. Roche supported the event as a platinum sponsor and actively participated in FutureHealth Basel 2025 on 07 April at the Congress Centre Basel in order to present solution approaches to the current and future challenges of healthcare. In an ageing society that is struggling with declining employment rates, an efficient healthcare system is becoming increasingly important. Access to innovative medicines, in particular, remains a central issue in Switzerland.
A highlight of FutureHealth Basel 2025 was the Panel on the Healthcare Landscape in Switzerland, during which Dr med. Katharina Gasser, Christoph Mäder and Dr Lukas Engelberger presented their perspectives.
Christoph Mäder, President of economiesuisse, emphasised the need for digitalisation and the creation of a robust data ecosystem. He also underlined the importance of combatting the shortage of skilled workers in order to ensure the long-term performance capability of the healthcare system.
Lukas Engelberger, President of the Conference of Health Directors and Head of the Department of Health in the Canton of Basel-City, explained that the financial difficulties faced by many Swiss hospitals could lead to increased consolidation efforts. Despite these problems, he said, it is important to ensure the quality and safety of care and to develop creative solutions within the existing framework conditions.
Katharina Gasser, General Manager of Roche Pharma Schweiz, also stressed the importance of attractive on-site conditions for the pharmaceutical industry in Switzerland in order to continue to promote innovation and ensure supply security:
«If we look at the pharma clusters around the world, we see that they are all embedded in a functioning healthcare system, that they all acknowledge innovation and that they all benefit from good framework conditions. It is therefore of the utmost importance that Switzerland has functioning production facilities – especially at a time when supply shortages are increasing worldwide.»
In his keynote «The Importance and Value of Pharmaceutical Innovation for Health and Social Services,» Michael Oberreiter, Head of External Affairs International at Roche, emphasised the crucial role of innovations in healthcare. An aging population, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and depopulation are posing significant challenges to health systems worldwide. Michael highlighted the economic and social impacts of these trends and underscored the need for prevention, early diagnosis and timely treatment.
Using data from the recent WiFOR study, he referred to the positive economic effects of innovative medicines and diagnostics, stating that innovations are not only essential for improving patients’ health, but have also been shown to have significant impact on GDP.
«Innovative medicines have a profound economic impact; for example, between 2017 and 2023, Roche's HER2+ breast cancer treatments added over $8 billion value to the GDP of the world’s largest economies, highlighting the significant value that pharmaceutical innovation brings to global economic growth.»
He concluded with a call to action: long term commitments from governments to invest in and prioritise healthcare, and to see healthcare not only as a fundamental service but also as a strategic investment in the economic and social well-being of their societies.
As part of the Deep Dive Session «Switzerland – a pharmaceutical country without medicines?», detailed insights were provided into the challenges and solution approaches to ensure supply security. After a welcome speech by Roche and a keynote speech by Magda Mrozik, Associate Principal at IQVIA, a panel discussion followed with:
Sarah Wyss, National Councillor for the Social Democrat Party of Switzerland/Basel-City and member of the Committee for Social Security and Health
Prof. Dr med. Roger von Moos, President of the Swiss Society of Medical Oncology
Samuel Lanz, Head Governmental Affairs Roche Pharma Schweiz AG
The experts stressed the importance of innovation in medicinal products and discussed financial incentives and the framework conditions for promoting research and development of new medicines. Particular attention was also given to the possible solutions to minimise delays in accessing medicines and the role of the domestic pharmaceutical industry.
This session offered a valuable platform for developing joint solutions for more efficient and reliable medicine supply in Switzerland. The contributions and discussions at FutureHealth Basel 2025 underlined the need for continued innovation and fruitful collaboration.