HEALTHCARE CORNER: The Long Road from Innovation to Patient Care

Despite rapid advances in medical science, patients often wait years before new procedures, technologies, or treatments reach clinical practice. The delay between innovation and access is shaped by a number of regulatory, institutional, and economic factors.

SYSTEMIC BOTTLENECKS

According to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), the average time to cover the cost for innovative treatments across EU countries is 578 days, with some nations waiting over two years. These delays stem from:

• Slow regulatory processes

• Repeated evidence requests

• Delayed market reviews (reviews to determine if a new treatment or device can be sold and covered by insurance are starting later than expected.

• Local coverage choices and payment challenges.

In the U.S., the Alliance for Patient Access reports that it can take up to 17 years for medical breakthroughs to move from lab to clinic. One major barrier is the lag in updating clinical practice guidelines, which are essential for integrating new treatments into standard care.

IMPACT ON PATIENTS

Delays in care can have serious consequences. A systematic review published in the SAS Journal of Medicine found that each day of delay in stroke treatment increases the risk of death or disability by 5%. For chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, outdated guidelines and limited public awareness can prevent patients from accessing dual-benefit medications that address both conditions simultaneously.

Shortening the distance between innovation and access requires coordinated effort across governments, institutions, and industry. In the inaugural episode of Healthcare Corner, Dr. Joseph Arrington examines how these delays affect patient care. He also explores what can be done to help institutions deliver timelier results before treatments reach those who need them.

Watch the first episode of Healthcare Corner: