E-DRUG: Launch of new IMS Institute
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E-Druggers,
I am sending out a press release about the launch of a new institute by IMS Health. As some of you may know IMS Health has been very helpful to WHO and others in the past five years providing data on public health issues. Of particular value were the quarterly reports produced by IMS Health on the impact of the recession on global pharmaceutical consumption. (See http://www.who.int/entity/medicines/areas/policy/imsreport/en/index.html) They are now moving to make their data more widely available through this health informatics institute so if you have a good question of public health significance that they can answer from their data bases ask it and see what assistance they could give you. Do look at their website at http://www.theimsinstitute.org and send queries to info@theimsinstitute.org
But do remember that IMS does not collect data from every country and apart from South Africa and francophone African countries does not collect from Sub Saharan African countries and does not generally collect public sector data. Their consumption data is much more robust than their expenditure or pricing data and their data is best used for time series analysis where appropriate. Much of their analytic work will focus on experiences from developed countries but some of these reports may have universal application. For example in the report Health IQ that they mention in their press release there are articles about the impact of regulatory advice and another article about factors affecting adherence. My belief is that only if we get good questions from Low and Middle Income countries will they start to analyze these issues.
So if your government decided to remove or increase taxes on medicine sales in the private sector with this data you could evaluate the impact.
Here is the press release.
IMS Health Launches Institute for Healthcare Informatics
Catalyst for Driving Transformational Insights and
Accelerating Healthcare Innovation Worldwide
NORWALK, CT, March 23, 2011 - IMS Health today introduced the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics - a new initiative that will leverage collaborative relationships in the public and private sectors to strengthen the vital role of information in advancing healthcare globally. The IMS Institute is focused on objective, relevant insights and research that will accelerate understanding and innovation critical to sound decision making and improved patient care. With access to the company's extensive global data assets and analytics, the IMS Institute will work in tandem with government agencies, academic institutions, the life sciences industry and payers to drive a research agenda dedicated to addressing today's healthcare challenges.
The IMS Institute's focus areas of research are:
* The use of information by healthcare stakeholders globally to improve health outcomes, reduce costs and increase access to available treatments.
* The performance of medical care through a better understanding of disease causes, treatment consequences and measures to improve quality and cost of healthcare delivered to patients.
* The future global role for biopharmaceuticals, the dynamics that shape the market and implications for manufacturers, public and private payers, providers, patients, pharmacists and distributors.
* The role of innovation in health system products, processes and delivery systems, and the business and policy systems that drive innovation.
* The advancement of healthcare agendas in developing nations based on information and analysis.
"The transformation of healthcare systems to better serve the needs of patients worldwide can be energized through a tighter linkage between information and decisions," said Murray Aitken, who heads the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics. "Through the Institute, we have a tremendous opportunity to ensure that the best available information - including IMS's unparalleled data and analytical assets - is applied to myriad issues that impact healthcare in every country around the world."
The output of the IMS Institute will be a combination of published reports and research papers, as well as proprietary research. The first report, HealthIQ - The Frontiers of Healthcare Advancement, released today, features recently published research supported by IMS. It presents an updated assessment of patterns and effects in the diffusion of innovation; an overview of evolving techniques and approaches in comparative effectiveness research; a review of the impact of regulatory advisories and guidelines on clinical practice; and a summary of insights from a decade of medication adherence research.3
The IMS Institute will incorporate the company's existing Health Services Research Network - a consortium of academic researchers in medicine, health economics and public health that applies evidence-based information to address key healthcare issues. In addition, the Institute will have a specific focus on China, where a team will collaborate with government agencies and institutions to enhance the role of information in policymaking and healthcare improvement.
About the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics
The IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics provides key policy setters and decision makers in the global health sector with unique and transformational insights into healthcare dynamics derived from granular analysis of information. It is a research-driven entity with a worldwide reach that collaborates with external healthcare experts from across academia and the public and private sectors to objectively apply IMS's proprietary global information and analytical assets. More information about the IMS Institute can be found at: http://www.theimsinstitute.org.
About IMS Health
IMS Health is the leading provider of information services for the healthcare industry around the world. The company draws on its global technology infrastructure and unique combination of in-depth, sophisticated analytics, on-shore and off-shore commercial services, and consulting platforms to help clients better understand the performance and value of medicines. With a presence in 100+ countries and more than 55 years of industry experience, IMS Health serves leading decision makers in healthcare, including pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, providers, payers, government agencies, policymakers, researchers and the financial community. Additional information is available at http://www.imshealth.com.
Richard Laing (Coordinator)
Medicine Information and Evidence for Policy,
Department of Essential Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policies
World Health Organization
CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
Tel 41 22 791 4533
Fax 41 22791 4167
E-mail laingr@who.int