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Business Association Chemistry Pharma Biotech |
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Newsletter
June 29th, 2012
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To whom it may concern |
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The price inspection model for pharmaceutical products is to be revised with patient benefits in mind
The price inspection model that entered into force on May 1, 2012 with the partial revisions of the Swiss Federal Health Insurance Regulations (KVV) and Swiss Federal Patient Care Services Regulations (KLV) is based unilaterally on a foreign price comparison, and it will lead to unreasonable price reductions in pharmaceutical products in Switzerland due to the strong Swiss franc. This damages Switzerland as a pharmaceutical location and punishes domestic research, development and production. scienceindustries is requesting that the price inspection model now agreed upon be revised, in order to achieve greater consideration of patient benefits. Furthermore, scienceindustries supports the motions put forward by the Swiss Parliament for the promotion of Switzerland as a research and pharmaceutical location. This includes the more rapid evaluation of clinical trials by the ethics commissions and Swissmedic, a more efficient approval of pharmaceutical products by Swissmedic and the accelerated inclusion of innovative pharmaceutical products in the "specialty list" of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health among the goals.
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The Energy Strategy 2050 lacks an overall view of the economic effects
Following the announcement of a first package of measures by the Swiss Federal Council, as a part of the Energy Strategy 2050 in April 2012, we find that it still lacks an overall view as to how energy supply security can be guaranteed in the long-term without nuclear power plants (topic of technology and imports), how the Swiss phase-out strategy should be positioned internationally (topic of solo effort), how climate goals in Switzerland can be achieved in the phase-out scenario (topic of gas power plants) and how the costs of the phase-out strategy will be handled over time. Consequently, the national economic effects of the planned nuclear-power phase-out remain unknown to a greater extent. What is clear, however, is that the price for electricity will have to sharply increase over the years, in order to achieve the electricity savings required by the energy strategy. The accompanying increase in electricity prices in Switzerland will have grave consequences for Switzerland as an economic location. scienceindustries will state its position in no uncertain terms during the expected consultation on Energy Strategy 2050 in September 2012.
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Minimum exchange rate of CHF 1.20/EUR should be enforced with determination
The member companies of scienceindustries, as the largest export industry in Switzerland, are adversely affected above-average by the ongoing upward revaluation of the Swiss franc. This is why scienceindustries expressly welcomed the introduction of a temporary minimum exchange rate of CHF 1.20/EUR at the beginning of September 2011. The minimum exchange rate will increase the planning reliability of companies. The ongoing developments in the European sovereign debt crisis may continue to keep the upward pressure on the Swiss franc high for a long time to come. In light of this, scienceindustries explicitly recognizes and supports the efforts of the politically-independent Swiss National Bank SNB to continue to use all suitable instruments for preserving the minimum exchange rate of CHF 1.20/EUR.
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At least 6% growth per year in public funds for education, research and innovation required
With the ERI Dispatch 2013-2016, the Swiss Federal Council proposed in the middle of February 2012 funding for the fields of education, research and innovation amounting to approximately 26 billion CHF. This corresponds to an average annual growth of 3.7%. In the 2012 summer session, the Council of States rejected the proposal, narrowly deciding against the advisory council to increase the ERI funding by an additional 292 million CHF. This would have smoothed growth throughout the entire period. scienceindustries will again dedicate all of its strength to supporting the proposal in the 2012 fall session of the National Council, which will consider the matter as the Second Council.
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The new Sustainability Report from scienceindustries sheds light on the topic of «Green Economy»
Since 1991, scienceindustries has been dedicated to sustainable development with its national RESPONSIBLE CARE program. In doing so, we demonstrate our responsibility towards society and the environment. The Sustainability Report of scienceindustries, appearing for the first time in English and in German, shows the numerous specific activities and services of the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotech industries for nature and the environment. It particularly sheds light on the "Green Economy" topic, and was prepared in view of the Rio+20 conference and the SAICM conference ICCM-3, to be held in September 2012.
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New members of the board of directors and the election of Dr. Gottlieb Keller as the new vice president
The General Assembly of scienceindustries on June 15, 2012 elected Pascal Brenneisen, Country President Novartis Switzerland, Dr. David Ebsworth, CEO Galenica Group SA and Dr. Toralf Haag, CFO Lonza AG to the board of directors of scienceindustries. On the preceding day, the board of directors elected Dr. Gottlieb Keller, member of the group management of F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, as vice president of scienceindustries.
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Would you like to learn more about our standpoints, or do you have any questions? If so, please contact our specialists at scienceindustries.
Kind regards
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sig. Dr. Beat Moser
Director |
sig. Marcel Sennhauser
Communication |
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