In a healthcare world that’s focussed on outcomes rather than treatments, innovation is whatever can help achieve those outcomes cost-effectively. Most cash-strapped payers would rather fork out for a technology shown to improve the often sub-50% compliance rates for existing treatments than pay for a new, more expensive drug that may offer only incremental benefit (assuming it’s taken appropriately). That means drug firms’ next round of innovation lies beyond the pill (or injection). The future will be about treatment, service and support that challenge and extend the traditional...

Prevention- Chronic care accounts for up to 80 per cent of European healthcare costs, but medical experts believe much of the disease burden can be prevented through a healthier lifestyle, early diagnosis and early intervention. Preventive strategies go beyond traditional health provision: companies as diverse as Marks & Spencer, a retailer, and BMW, a carmaker, have launched health screening programmes which provide their employees with information on diet and exercise.Patients at the centre- As they shore up healthcare systems, policymakers and healthcare providers are putting...

Johnson & Johnson's CEO Alex Gorsky reiterated his company's commitment to employee health and wellbeing earlier this week, during a lecture he gave at the London School of Economics. Speaking on the topic of healthcare innovation, the new-ish CEO said the company sees a return of $2 to $4 dollars on every dollar it spends on encouraging a healthy workforce – a useful margin for any big business currently being squeezed by volatile market conditions. J&J uses a number of carrots and sticks to encourage health and wellness among its workforce, some of which sound...

Now that the US Supreme Court has ruled on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the legal debate over the provision of minimum insurance for all has largely been settled. However, the fiery rhetoric continues to reverberate throughout Congress, and the US is still at loggerheads. “Why?” you ask. The answer is simple; yet somehow still incomplete. The Supreme Court ruled that Congress does not have the authority to penalise states that refuse to expand Medicaid. In response, states such as Texas, Florida, Louisiana and others are standing firm against expanding coverage within their jurisdictions....