3. We have a powerful purpose…..
“We try never to forget that medicine is for the people.
It is not for the profits. The profits follow, and if we have
remembered that, they have never failed to appear.
… We cannot rest until the way has been
found to bring our finest achievements
to everyone.”
George W. Merck, 1950
Our aim is to save, change and improve
the lives of the patients we serve.
5. Research Programme
Exploration of public’s wishes and opinions
regarding the future of healthcare in Ireland to
provide initial direction.
Focus Groups with the
public
Think Tank and
Interviews with key
opinion leaders
Survey with General Public
Measurement of the general public’s views
on the healthcare system and the values they
seek from this system.
Facilitated discussion with key opinion
leaders and healthcare stakeholders in to
review focus groups and shape the
quantitative survey.
8. What Irish Healthcare Means To Me
Spontaneous associations dominated by (i) negativity and (ii) secondary care
9. How Are These Opinions Founded?
Spontaneous associations are negative
Most initial responses are dominated by
negative sentiment and criticism
But positive viewpoints can emerge
When probed, some positive
perceptions are in evidence
There is inconsistency of experience
Experiences can vary considerably within
settings, groups, even individuals
10. Perceptions Are Shaped By Three Core
Sources
Personal Experience
Negative experiences
are more ‘memorable’
by their nature
But positive stories
also in evidence
Quality of staff
interactions (or lack
thereof) are critical to
the user experience
Word of Mouth
Most have friends or
relatives that have
shared poor
experiences
Poor experiences for
those who we value
the most (relatives,
loved ones) strike an
emotional chord
The Media
“Positive doesn’t sell
newspapers!”
Crisis reporting about
Irish healthcare is
arguably the norm
Positive stories
accepted to be under-
reported
11. The Public Struggle To See Where Its
Voice Is Being Heard
The
Media
•Public can have voice
through traditional and
social media
•Power of health
programmes on TV (e.g.
Op Trans)
The
Ballot
Box
•Some see progress in
health as intrinsically
linked to politics
•New Minister for Health
The
Young
Future
•Ireland is aging
•But hope that younger
people may be more
health conscious and
‘clued in’
All agree that the public
should have a stronger
voice in shaping its
own health system
However, problems are
large and perceived as
insurmountable by some
Some struggle to see how
the public can have a
practical input – merely
pawns in the system
Little mention of patient
advocacy groups
How?
We employ over 2,000 people at sites in Dublin, Carlow, Cork, Tipperary and Wicklow.
We manufacture or package many of our leading products for the world market in Ireland.
Our Irish sites are renowned for their capability to rapidly introduce new products (and additional volumes of existing products) at minimal additional capital cost, ensuring supply for new product launches / expanding market opportunities
Many of the most widely used MSD medicines are developed by our teams in Ireland, where 61% of MSD’s global top 20 products are manufactured. We have invested hugely in the Irish market and our Irish sites are well regarded, and renowned, by our colleagues across the globe.
We have continuously led the way when it comes to our capability to rapidly introduce new products, and additional volumes of existing products, at minimal additional capital cost – ensuring supply for new product launches or expanding market opportunities are served
€11.5 million investment in April to MSD’s first vaccines facility outside of US in Ireland
In the last 3 years we have made significant new investments in Carlow, Dublin, Tipperary, and Cork.
Ireland continues to lead the way when it comes to our capability to rapidly introduce new products, and additional volumes of existing product at minimal additional capital cost.
Ireland plays an important part in MSD’s global success as MSD manufacturers or packages many of its leading products for the world market in Ireland and completed critical late stage R&D for new products in Ireland.
In the past five decades MSD has invested over €2.2bn in Ireland and contributes significantly towards making the pharmaceutical industry the country's leading export sector.
Today MSD employs almost 2,000 people directly in Ireland and provides an additional 9,000 indirect jobs through its operations at eight sites across Ireland.
When we look at healthcare, the glass is either half full or half empty.
Are we negative about current failings or positive about the future of healthcare
Reasons for optimism, reasons for pessimism….
We engaged Ipsos MRBI to carry out a piece of research that would tell us about what people think about the current state of the health service and what hopes they have for the future
What is important to them in a health system that works.
The research was done in three phases………….
And what we found that ultimately our health system is based on two principles – survival and quality
Survival is about access to the system in the first place
Quality is about the standards we expect when we’re in the system
Survival and quality
Ultimately the patient wants to be empowered.
How does the patient feel empowered in our health system??
Access – people want timely and affordable access as a priority – this was the number one priority in our focus groups
Communication – MSD has worked with NALA on the Crystal Clear awards – we want to ensure the patient understands what their diagnosis is, etc
Quality -
Experience – people want clean healthcare settings that are easy to navigate
When we asked focus groups for their spontaneous reactions to Irish healthcare, it was dominated by both negativity and a focus on secondary care
When we look at healthcare, the glass is either half full or half empty.
Are we negative about current failings or positive about the future of healthcare
Reasons for optimism, reasons for pessimism….