Pharma ’s new ally: the caregiver

While pharma and the wider healthcare sector are making patients more central to their innovation efforts these days, little consideration is given to caregivers. The role of the unpaid caregiver is one they would do well to consider more. Caregivers comprise an enormous, and largely untapped, reservoir of information and wisdom about the individuals they provide care for, says Schiffon Wong, Executive Director, Global Evidence& Value Development at EMD Serono.   “There is a significant opportunity when it comes to caregiver input into medical product evaluation. Understanding this can further our own ambitions to develop new products and improve patient outcomes.” Wong is involved with Embracing Carers, a global initiative founded by Merck, Germany and led by its biopharma business EMD Serono in the U.S. and Canada, in collaboration with leading carer organisations to increase awareness, discussion and action about the often-overlooked needs of carers. A source of insightsSuch initiatives will grow in importance. As populations in the developed world age and as healthcare delivery systems fragment and grow more complex, carers will become ever more important allies in improving outcomes. The day-to-day experience of carers has huge potential to deliver valuable insights, says Grace Whiting, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC). “It is important for people who are designing drugs and devices to understand how they are used in the rea...
Source: EyeForPharma - Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Source Type: news