It took place the "Milan Life Science Forum” at Palazzo Lombardia, an annual event dedicated to Life Sciences sponsored by Assolombarda and now in its sixth edition.
The exhibition acts as an amplifier for the requests of the Life Sciences sector, which contributes to 13% of GDP in Lombardy in terms of added value thanks to the commitment of approximately 1.900 healthcare businesses and organizations with high innovative potential.
The “Milan Life Science Forum” has gathered again businesses, institutions and universities with the aim of consolidating a common path to support the Regional Social and Health Service through public-private collaboration, focusing on the Life Sciences supply chain. The meeting was attended by the president Alessandro Spada, the vice president Sergio Dompé with responsibility for Life Sciences, Gianfelice Rocca (special advisor Life Sciences of Confindustria), the president of the Lombard Life Sciences Cluster Gabriele Pelissero, and the regional councilor for Welfare Guido Bertolaso.
Public-private pact for Life Sciences in Lombardy
This year's event starts from new public-private pact for Life Sciences in Lombardy, an agreement stipulated in the previous months between the Region and Lombardy companies (represented by Assolombarda and Confindustria Lombardia).
The agreement aims to support the Regional Social and Health Service (SSR) in continuous evolution for the benefit of citizens. It is a multi-year project aimed at promoting shared growth and innovation, connecting the Health System to the Life Science supply chain, considered the heart of innovation and a strategic asset to guarantee high standards of care and effective responses to present and future health and socio-health needs.
Collaboration between these two ecosystems is seen as fundamental to guiding and promoting the health, social and economic well-being of the country.
The results of the research on the Lombardy healthcare system were presented
During the event, the results of the Research "Sustainability and resilience of the Lombardy healthcare system” conducted by the High School of Economics and Management of Health Systems of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (ALTEMS), with the support of Assolombarda and Region Lombardia.
The study analyzed various indicators linked to the Regional Social and Health Service with the aim of outlining the current scenario and providing the basis for a common strategy in the field of Health and Life Sciences. The key recommendations emerging from the research aim to promote innovation and growth in this sector.
Lombardy at the top in health services
The report confirmed the stability of governance of the public health organizations of Lombardia (ATS and ASST) and the economic-financial efficiency of the system as a whole. The region stands out as one of the better performing in the provision of health services, contributing to the growth of the Life Sciences supply chain, which recorded a del% increase 12 in the value of production between 2018 and 2021, despite the pandemic.
Credit for this success is also attributed to contribution from private providers which have improved the capacity and quality of services, covering a wide spectrum from preventive activities to specialist outpatient care, from acute care to research.
Lombardy shows trends above the national average in terms of health services. There population in the region, according to research, is among the most long-lived and healthy nationwide, with healthy life expectancies rising.
Public-private collaboration in research
La public-private collaboration in Lombardy it has a significant impact on research, with the presence of 19 IRCCS (Scientific Hospitalization and Care Institutes) out of 53 recognized nationally.
These centres, in collaboration with universities and companies, contribute to the innovation of the supply chain and the creation of scientific, clinical studies and patents. The region also hosts Human Technopole, the first national center for research in the Life Sciences.
40% of the largest companies in Lombardy have a research hubs, attracting around a third of national investments in research and development in the pharmaceutical and medtech sectors, for a total of 900 million euros. This makes Lombardy a strategic territory that affects the country's competitive capacity on a global level, considering that by 2028 the pharmaceutical and medical device sector will invest over 337 billion dollars in research and development worldwide.
The investigation provided recommendations to further develop the Life Sciences sector and improve the regional health service. Research suggests the definition of new indicators (KPI) to measure the achievement of health planning objectives, involving public and private actors. The importance of is also highlighted measure system performance to ensure a more efficient allocation of investments, considering the public health expenditure-to-GDP ratio in Italy at 6,7%, lower than the EU average estimated at 8% in 2022.
" Lombardia It has a life sciences supply chain extremely developed and competitive both nationally and internationally. And Milan is the beating heart of the Lombardy life sciences supply chain – he declared Alessandro Spada, President of Assolombarda -. If we look at the numbers, it generates a production value of over 74 billion euros, an added value of almost 27 billion euros and employs more than 340 thousand workers. A'industrial excellence which must be protected. In this direction, it is essential to pass, at European level, the principle according to which investments in healthcare, a strategic sector, are not subject to the Stability Pact. Otherwise, it means limiting the capacity of the supply chain to generate growth, well-being, social cohesion, research, innovation, tech transfer and new industry for the territory, for the country and also for Europe. A skill that risks being compromised also from the recent proposal of the European Commission on revision of continental pharmaceutical legislation. In fact, if it were approved, it would mean weakening intellectual property with negative consequences both on the attraction of companies and large research centers and on the service to citizens. Damage to our leadership in research for life."
