Top Eight Issues for 2008 (according to PwC)

By Clive Riddle

The other day I received my copy of the "Top Eight Health Industry Issues in 2008", billed as "The third annual summary of current health industry issues by PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute."

You have to admire anyone who produces a list of top items that doesn't use the number ten. Here without further The PwC Health Research Institute list is based upon survey research, as opposed to pure thought leadership. Without further adieu, here's a summary of what they found is store for us, in terms of what we must address and that will impact us in 2008:

1) Significant changes in the way hospitals bill Medicare will create some winners and some losers.

2) Renewed focus is on the FDA’s drug safety initiatives.

3) A surge in the number of retail clinics will force states, payers, and policy makers to think about the right model for the delivery of primary care.

4) The market for individual health insurance could take off.

5) Retirees are playing a greater role in funding their healthcare coverage—whether they like it or not.

6) Big pharmaceutical companies will keep buying and collaborating with life sciences companies to stock their pipelines

7) This year, hospitals publicly report their corporate responsibility.

8) Asia is poised to be the largest pharmaceutical consumer and pharmaceutical producer in the world.

Click here to download a copy of their eight page report. 

So what's on your top whatever list?