The first number, 330, concerns the employees of a "colossus", Astrazeneca, who are about to lose their jobs. Another number is 73,700, or the total number of employees in the pharmaceutical industry in Italy. Two figures that tell the same story: the first highlights the difficulties caused by the continuous reductions in the prices of medicines; the second gives prestige to a strong sector, both in terms of turnover and importance given that it is third in Europe (after Germany and France) and fifth in the world in terms of consumption.
The pharmaceutical one is a significant portion of the national economy, even if it does not always shine in its own light. Italian companies, for example, have a troubled history behind them and today they are struggling to resist the advance of multinationals which use our territory to invest (a little), to produce and distribute (a lot). But Italy shouldn't be considered a land of conquest for Big Pharma, even if government policy towards pharmaceutical companies has always been inattentive, if not downright punitive: savings on growing health care spending have mainly aimed at cutting the price of medicines. It cannot be excluded that there is still a widespread ideological prejudice against the drug industry (because it makes profits on people's health). Surely the more or less recent scandals that have brought to light wrongdoing, corruption, immorality have weighed (in the negative judgement). Just as the unethical behaviors of multinationals who want to lay down the law even in the poorest countries on earth are harshly – and rightly – criticized (the latest case involves Pfizer which was denounced by the Nigerian government for having used a drug on 200 children which caused deaths or serious consequences: the Nigerian authorities have asked Pfizer for compensation of 7 billion dollars).
But something is changing. At least in Italy. Scandals are not as frequent as they used to be, also thanks to the internal code decided by Farmindustria. Furthermore, companies don't only think about the production and sale of drugs because they invest in research and development, as the figures show: employees grew by 2.2 percent, going from 6,030 to 6,165. Furthermore, companies export much more than the average (9 billion three hundred million euros in 2006) and thanks to their direct purchases they generate employment in other sectors for 55 thousand people. This is why the president of Farmindustria has been asking for a policy that allows companies to plan large investments for some time.
The pharmaceutical one is a significant portion of the national economy, even if it does not always shine in its own light. Italian companies, for example, have a troubled history behind them and today they are struggling to resist the advance of multinationals which use our territory to invest (a little), to produce and distribute (a lot). But Italy shouldn't be considered a land of conquest for Big Pharma, even if government policy towards pharmaceutical companies has always been inattentive, if not downright punitive: savings on growing health care spending have mainly aimed at cutting the price of medicines. It cannot be excluded that there is still a widespread ideological prejudice against the drug industry (because it makes profits on people's health). Surely the more or less recent scandals that have brought to light wrongdoing, corruption, immorality have weighed (in the negative judgement). Just as the unethical behaviors of multinationals who want to lay down the law even in the poorest countries on earth are harshly – and rightly – criticized (the latest case involves Pfizer which was denounced by the Nigerian government for having used a drug on 200 children which caused deaths or serious consequences: the Nigerian authorities have asked Pfizer for compensation of 7 billion dollars).
But something is changing. At least in Italy. Scandals are not as frequent as they used to be, also thanks to the internal code decided by Farmindustria. Furthermore, companies don't only think about the production and sale of drugs because they invest in research and development, as the figures show: employees grew by 2.2 percent, going from 6,030 to 6,165. Furthermore, companies export much more than the average (9 billion three hundred million euros in 2006) and thanks to their direct purchases they generate employment in other sectors for 55 thousand people. This is why the president of Farmindustria has been asking for a policy that allows companies to plan large investments for some time.
The answer to the industrialists was also given physically: the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Economic Development were in the front row at the assembly of the association. Never in the past had a government participated so authoritatively in the meeting of the sector. Sign of a different attention. Paradoxically, under Berlusconi, 16 of the 18 price maneuvers decided in the last five years took place. Now there is the intention to change pace, combining health protection, research support and expenditure control. It remains to be seen whether the acknowledgment of the role, weight and value of pharmaceuticals will be reflected in the DPEF and the Finance Law.
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Minister Livia Turco presented the official data on three years of application of law 40 on assisted fertilization. The results? Disheartening, worrying: the percentage of pregnancies has dropped by 3.6 percentage points which in absolute terms means 1,041 fewer pregnancies. We have not returned to the Middle Ages – as some gynecologists claim – but law 40 certainly does not facilitate the birth of children. Maybe those who support the family should think about it.
g.pepe@repubblica.it
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Minister Livia Turco presented the official data on three years of application of law 40 on assisted fertilization. The results? Disheartening, worrying: the percentage of pregnancies has dropped by 3.6 percentage points which in absolute terms means 1,041 fewer pregnancies. We have not returned to the Middle Ages – as some gynecologists claim – but law 40 certainly does not facilitate the birth of children. Maybe those who support the family should think about it.
g.pepe@repubblica.it
