Keep U.S. Ahead In Innovation

President Obama is to be commended for going before the American Medical Association to make his case for health-care reform in the United States. Like Obama, we in the pharmaceutical industry are committed to keeping the lines of communication open as we all seek to protect the best of the health-care system and strengthen those areas where it falls short.

Most importantly, improving and expanding care for patients must remain our top priority - which is why we at AstraZeneca believe that all Americans should have affordable health insurance, including prescription drug coverage.

As the debate progresses, we believe the President, Congress and everyone engaged in the debate must recognize the need for the health-care system to promote and protect America's status as the leader in medical innovation as we seek to cure and treat the world's most debilitating - and costly - diseases.

This is especially true because the United States has not always been the center of medical innovation.

When I took my first job in the pharmaceutical industry, Europe was viewed as the world pharmaceutical leader. But that has changed over the last three decades. With governments constraining patient access to new medicines, investment returns shrank and a segment of Europe's pharmaceutical industry base shifted to the United States.

Today, both the European Union and individual nations are working to institute pro-medical innovation policies to try to recapture Europe's leadership in this industry. For example, Great Britain has started to put less intrusive and more predictable policies in place that open the door to enabling and rewarding innovation.

Additionally, countries in Asia are rolling out medical innovation strategies. China in particular is moving to create a better environment for innovation - and investing in it while creating strategies to develop the infrastructure and biochemistry knowledge in their people that will make them more competitive over the next 20 to 40 years.

While the United States is the current leader in finding new cures and treatments, we must make sure the U.S. health-care system continues to foster an environment for innovation.

By David Brennan  |  June 15, 2009; 4:23 PM ET  | Category:  Health Care Reform
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