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EF: What will be Roche’s main priorities and challenges in 2024?
JC: Mexico is going through an important transition this year, offering many opportunities to embrace. The state of the economy is strong, with GDP expected to continue to grow. In addition to the rise in private consumption in the market and near-shoring, Mexico is profiting from the country's demographic bonus (increase in active population). However, investment in healthcare has not received the full priority it deserves. Mexico invested approximately 2.9% of its GDP in public health in 2022, when, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), countries are recommended to allocate around 6% of their GDP to this objective, with around 30% of it specifically dedicated to primary care. Mexico falls short of this target, so an evident opportunity exists to enhance healthcare investment. This entails not only increasing investment but also doing it strategically and wisely.
Using the multiplier effect, meaning investing where you receive a higher return on investment, is crucial. Studies show the multiplier effect on healthcare with significant returns, such as $39.00 for every dollar invested in tuberculosis detection. For every 1 USD generated directly by the Mexican Health Economy, it generates an additional 0.8 dollars within the Mexican economy in general. Leveraging these opportunities improves people's health, which is critical, and stimulates economic growth and population wealth.
Our key priority at Roche is expanding high-quality healthcare access in Mexico. Our diagnostic division has impacted 37 million people in Mexico. By 2030, we hope to reach at least 50 million. Secondly, we want to bring more innovation to Mexico. As one of the largest worldwide investors in innovation, we allocated 23 percent of our sales from the previous year to R&D. Last year, our company launched about 34 new diagnostics solutions globally, including new diagnostic tests, platforms, and digital solutions. Our goal is to apply innovation where patients need it the most.
Moreover, we are emphasizing prevention and health management in collaboration with various public and private stakeholders. While healthcare systems typically focus on treating illnesses, there is a need to prioritize early detection and prevention. Currently, less than 3% of healthcare spending worldwide is allocated to preventive and diagnostic care. Mexico is no exception. We always refer to diagnostics as the silent hero of healthcare as they influence about 70% of clinical choices, even though they only account for less than 2% of total healthcare spending.
EF: Could you elaborate on Roche’s strategy to enhance the impact of diagnostics in healthcare?
Roche has taken a three-step approach in the diagnostic field. Firstly, regarding our diagnostic solutions, we focus on expanding access and introducing innovative tests to guarantee early diagnosis. We presented 21 new diagnostic tests, 6 new platforms, and 7 new digital solutions to the market only last year and want to ensure we contribute to the long-term sustainability of the healthcare system by providing solutions that allow laboratories, hospitals, and healthcare professionals to boost their effectiveness and efficiency. In a second layer, we aim to support clinicians in their decision-making through digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The third step involves leveraging the data available to develop a disease management approach that integrates diagnosis and treatment while tracking the course of the latter, particularly in chronic illnesses. To succeed in all these steps, we are developing multiple strategic partnerships.
EF: What is your access strategy, particularly when it comes to increasing the detection of diseases and complex conditions in a diverse landscape like Mexico?
JC: Geographically and in terms of population, Mexico is a fairly large country. We are market leaders in both the private and public sectors through our network of private customers, which includes the largest private hospitals and ambulatory lab chains, and in the public sector, where we have a strong network of partners that serve the various regional secretaries of healthcare, special systems, as well as IMSS and ISSSTE.
One area we are currently concentrating on is the introduction of innovation in the small and medium hospital and laboratory segments, not just in terms of tests but also in terms of platforms and automated solutions previously exclusive to larger laboratories and hospitals. Last year, we launched new platforms that combine the efficiency of complete automation with precision in testing. These platforms can change the game by raising quality and lowering processing costs in this market segment, significantly expanding access to high-quality diagnosis across Mexico.
We are also shifting away from a purely technical focus to a holistic health-based approach. We are focusing on key therapeutic areas with high disease burden in Mexico, such as women's health, infectious diseases, cardiometabolic diseases, and oncology. By putting clear priorities into practice, we can actively foster prevention and disease management, ultimately impacting the prevalence of these diseases in Mexico.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the country, with cardiovascular disorders claiming the lives of 220,000 people annually. Diabetes is another major contributor to mortality in Mexico. Moreover, the two primary causes of cancer-related deaths among Mexican women are breast and cervical cancer, and early diagnosis has a huge impact on survival rates. We want to promote access, innovation, and prevention further since we have solutions for all those diseases that make a difference and can save lives.
EF: How is Roche dedicated to raising public health awareness and educating the public about the importance of diagnostics?
JC: The International Federation of Diabetes estimates that 47% of people in Mexico lack a diagnosis. Assuming that 18% of Mexicans are living with diabetes and that almost half of them do not have a diagnosis is an excellent illustration of how the diagnosis affects not only the economy but also patient outcomes, people's lives, and their families. Numerous studies demonstrate, for instance, that early cancer diagnosis results in two to four times less expensive therapy than a later stage of the disease. With breast cancer, nearly all patients survive in the early stages, but just three out of ten women do so in the later stages. There is a significant gap between preventive and disease-focused thinking, as well as between early and late diagnosis. We have to close this gap to achieve healthcare sustainability.
EF: What recommendations would you offer to increase investment in the diagnostic field, particularly in Mexico?
JC: With every country experiencing resource scarcity and an aging world population, making prudent and smart investment decisions becomes crucial.
In terms of increasing investment, it comes down to making it both a personal and political priority. We must ensure that healthcare becomes a top concern for every Mexican citizen. A collaborative effort is needed for patients and citizens to take charge of their own healthcare. Government, Healthcare providers, educators, and industry stakeholders all have a role in raising awareness, educating the public, and ultimately, empowering patients and citizens.
There is a multiplier effect when investments in healthcare are made prudently and in areas with the greatest influence on healthcare gains. The application of technology, such as the digitization of healthcare, is a game changer, allowing people to control their own health, and healthcare professionals to make better clinical decisions. Digitalization can contribute to healthcare systems' sustainability, increasing efficiency and reducing waste. AI enables medical professionals to provide more precise advice and personalized treatments. Additionally, integrated population health management can determine population-level patterns for public health interventions and trends across various demographic cohorts. Roche is supporting the digitalization of hospitals and outpatient settings in Mexico, and we have multiple examples of its benefits already. In the field of pathology, for example, artificial intelligence and digital solutions can guide pathologists in diagnosing diseases and support oncologists with the best treatment options for their patients based on their unique characteristics.
EF: How can we increase trust in the healthcare system?
JC: Trust in the healthcare system is a prerequisite for the rule of law, the highest standards of ethics, and strict compliance, which are all vitally important. Healthcare is about people's lives; therefore, all system stakeholders need to place the highest priority on these prerequisites. From a clinical standpoint, patients need to feel completely confident that they are receiving the best care possible.
Another angle of Trust is Collaboration. Collaborating is essential to address the significant healthcare challenges and opportunities ahead of us. Both the public and the private sector need to collaborate. None can succeed independently. No company alone can do it, and partnerships are crucial. To take advantage of healthcare opportunities, we need a collaborative spirit and information exchange to develop partnerships among the different players and stakeholders across the healthcare value chain.
Lastly, it is imperative to focus on the solution and not only the problem. Instead of only discussing the many forms of system inefficiencies and gaps, while acknowledging them and identifying their respective root causes, it is critical to take the step forward and have a solution-mindset approach, innovate, take risks, learn with successes and failures, and move forward, faster.
EF: Drawing on your extensive international experience, how do you leverage the knowledge and insights gained in different regions and environments and apply them to the Mexican market?
JC: Every market has certain unique characteristics but many more commonalities. At Roche, we act locally while adopting a global perspective. In addition to my country manager position, I oversee a particular network throughout LATAM to determine the commonalities among our main partners and ensure that there is cross-pollination, as many effective solutions in one country can be modified and beneficially applied in other nations.
Mexico has traditionally been a country that has focused on adopting innovations from other markets. However, it deserves more. This country has the potential to be a leader and is already taking the forefront in many dimensions, such as in the adoption of Roche digital solutions. Mexico has the capabilities, knowledge, resilience, and talent to be an innovation powerhouse. We are working every day to make this vision a reality.
EF: Close to celebrating your 10 years at Roche, what would you highlight as your greatest accomplishments?
JC: With a background in business, I entered the healthcare field because this industry can truly benefit society. I aspire to live a purposeful life and leave the world in a bit better state than I found it. I am incredibly fortunate to work with extremely talented individuals, and I take great satisfaction in seeing our impact on patients and watching my teams develop. Witnessing and listening to people whose lives have changed because of what we do is the ultimate accomplishment.
Even though Roche is a very large publicly traded multinational corporation, we foster a family-oriented culture. This long-term perspective sets us apart in our extensive R&D investment, our obsession with quality and innovation, our commitment to society and patients, and our continuous investment in our people.
