Letter from the editors - Drs Bruce Feinberg and Eli Phillps Jr.
While volatility and uncertainty surround us, the Persian adage “this too shall pass” seems apropos as we unite to resume life as normal after a once-in-a-century pandemic. However, this image of normalcy is likely to be tested and somewhat distorted in a post-COVID-19 environment despite our collective best efforts. While every industry is impacted, some of the most profound changes will be in healthcare. The key to understanding these changes is to recognize that our previously held views of “interactions” are altered for the foreseeable future and in more ways than social distancing. The manner with which the industry interacts with and across patients, providers, and even regulators will continue to evolve into new models at an explosive pace. Additionally, the costs, quality, and access to healthcare will also be redefined as virtual care expands and remote care to include telepharmacy and telemedicine take center stage.
At Cardinal Health, we work determinedly through our experts in healthcare research, operations, regulatory, and supply chain logistics to observe and analyze market trends that will impact our clients. We explore such trends in each issue of our FOCUS magazine. In this issue, we share insights gleaned from our market research and subject matter experts to help navigate a future healthcare environment. This includes the pursuit of cures to chronic disabling diseases using cell and gene therapies rather than traditional drug palliation. We also explore how real-world evidence, which has been on full display throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, shortens the time from bench to bedside in drug development. We explain why the patient voice will be critical in future innovation strategies and how healthcare stakeholders can become literate in the language of value-based care. We believe that these areas of focus will set the foundation for the current healthcare transformation.