Political environment, healthcare

No one can be sure exactly how the US political environment will unfold with respect to healthcare over the next few years, but it is likely to feature continuing support for generics and for formidaries that impact the profits of innovator companies. However, according to an October 2008 Boston Consulting Group (BCG) analysis, the Obama administration may cause the US industry a number of difficulties (62). 

The Commission chose to define the environment as encompassing the healthcare delivery system, health professions education, the academic health center and research enterprise, and the related social, economic, and political forces which impact these three areas. It has did so by recognizing that this did not constitute the entire environment which could be considered in such a discussion. 

Europe s biotech and pharma sectors are compromised by healthcare cost containment and the inability to provide a uniform regulatory, political and financial system. However, the national govenunents individually and collectively are committed to strategic improvements to increase competitiveness. Japan is in a similar situation, but although its pharmaceutical sector has matured its biotech industry is in its infancy. Government action to improve the research environment has been slow. 

---