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THE EAGLE. Cuts and little investment in research. These are the elements that risk destroying the Italian pharmaceutical sector, the second in Europe behind only Germany, in terms of production capacity. |
Among the most productive regions is Abruzzo with 5 plants, about 1,100 employees and 1,250 operators in related industries. In the province of L'Aquila alone, employees represent 31% of the entire manufacturing sector. This and more was discussed during the round table organized yesterday on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Menarini group, one of the leading companies in the pharmaceutical sector, entitled "Pharmaceutical production: a successful model at risk?" Present at the meeting moderated by journalist Bruno Vespa, the general manager of Censis Giuseppe Roma who illustrated the data of a research on the Italian pharmaceutical sector, the general manager of Menarini, Carlo Colombini, the president of Farmindustria, Massimo Scaccabarozzi and the president of the Abruzzo Region Gianni Chiodi.
A BALL AND THE FOOT?
As long as pharmaceutical spending is seen by politicians as a ball and chain (a waste and not a potential for development), there will be no growth. This is the thought of Massimo Scaccabarozzi, president of Farmindustria according to whom we must not only consider expenditure but the aspect of pharmaceutical production, employment and research. The cuts in the sector involve a relocation of production abroad with repercussions on local employment.
According to Censis data, the production of the drug is equal to 25 billion euros, 14 of which for export.
«Let's get out of the prejudice», says Scaccabarozzi, «of considering the drug as a cost, primary responsible for public health expenditure when, in reality, it only represents its 16%. This 16% contains a significant industrial value which is represented by 12.5 billion euros or the value of the sector in terms of taxes, salaries,
