ROME (ITALPRESS) - Decline in production and job losses. This is the negative reflection of the crisis on the Italian pharmaceutical industry. This is what was underlined by the president of Farmindustria, Massimo Scaccabarozzi, during his speech at the conference "Healthcare and health in Italy in a context of economic crisis: the direction for growth". In a complicated general context, Scaccabarozzi highlighted, the pharmaceutical industry which operates and invests 2.4 billion a year in Italy can undoubtedly represent an important lever for the country's growth. However, Italy, currently the second largest drug producer in Europe, runs the risk of seeing the presence of a high-tech production sector of absolute value for the Italian economy significantly reduced. According to data from Farmindustria, in the first eight months of 2013, the sector's production dropped by 3.6% and according to forecasts there will be a further decrease of 1% in the next two years. The repercussions on employment are serious. In the last 5 years, the sector has lost 10,000 jobs and currently employs 65,000 people. Therefore, in order to support the sector, it is necessary to guarantee more and more investments in research and production and innovation, which represents the founding value of the pharmaceutical industry, in a stable regulatory framework. Two elements - concluded Scaccabarozzi - which contribute respectively to economic growth and to the improvement of therapies and consequently the quality of life of patients, in many cases reducing healthcare costs".
November 9, 2012 | 12:55 | www.italpress.com
