The demand for strategic guidance and data-driven solutions has never been more pronounced in today’s growing healthcare arena, where the efficacy of medical interventions meets the careful evaluation of economic viability. Amidst this backdrop, emerges HEALTH VALUE a consultancy firm that not only directs through the complexities of the industry but also pioneers innovative approaches to address evolving challenges.
With a profound understanding of the subtleties of the field, HEALTH VALUE, under the leadership of its Director – Carlos Rubio Terrés, is positioned to revolutionize the way healthcare solutions are conceptualized and implemented. Led by Rubio Terrés and supported by a team of experts, their mission extends beyond mere consultation; they are architects of transformation, shaping the future of healthcare delivery.
HEALTH VALUE’s commitment to excellence, guided by Rubio Terrés’ vision, is reflected in its relentless pursuit of cutting-edge methodologies and its dedication to client success. By staying at the forefront of industry trends and regulations, they remain agile in the face of change, consistently delivering tailored solutions that drive tangible results.
Let’s delve into the interview details and explore how HEALTH VALUE, under the leadership of Carlos Rubio Terrés, serves as a pillar of innovation and an evidence to the power of strategic thinking in the evolving healthcare sector. With a proven track record of success and a forward-thinking approach, they are positioned to lead the charge towards a brighter, more sustainable future for healthcare worldwide!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and your role at HEALTH VALUE?
HEALTH VALUE was born in 2003, 21 years ago, with the aim of carrying out studies and developing instruments that help define the effectiveness and efficiency of medicines and other health technologies within the scope of the Spanish National Health System. HEALTH VALUE has its roots both in the Health Administration and in the Pharmaceutical Industry. This is due to the professional career of Carlos Rubio Terrés, his founder, owner and director, who permeates the spirit of the company. Over the past four decades he has held various positions at the Pharmacobiology National Centre (Instituto de Salud Carlos III), the Spanish Ministry of Health, in a number of pharmaceutical companies (Lederle, Wyeth, Aventis) and in HEALTH VALUE consulting.
What inspired you to establish HEALTH VALUE, and what is the company’s mission?
HEALTH VALUE’s consulting mission is to collaborate with the pharmaceutical companies from pre-launch to help define pricing and reimbursement strategies, launch and post-launch needs. In short, we help to generate the necessary evidence on the therapeutic and economic value of the new health intervention, to successfully face the introduction of the new product. We help differentiate the new drug from its competitors. Our consulting work is carried out with full involvement in the pharmaceutical company’s project and with a wide flexibility, adapting at all times to the needs of our clients.
Can you provide an overview of HEALTH VALUE’s services and the innovative solutions you offer in the healthcare sector?
At HEALTH VALUE we work in all areas whose objective is to demonstrate the economic and clinical value of the new medicines. Of course, we carry out newly created economic analyzes (mainly probabilistic Markov models, although we work in all types of economic models) and we also adapt global economic models to the National Health System. We carry out evidence synthesis studies, through meta-analysis and systematic reviews. Finally, we present these data in Dossiers of Therapeutic and Pharmacoeconomic Value, which are very useful for pharmaceutical companies for negotiating the price and reimbursement of the new medicines with health authorities.
HEALTH VALUE also collaborates with pharmaceutical companies in defending the therapeutic positioning of the new drug, as well as in the review process of already marketed medications.
HEALTH VALUE plays an important role in conducting Real World Evidence studies. This is the case, for example, of the PRAXIS, ASMACOST and PREGECAM studies.
HEALTH VALUE has given pharmacoeconomics courses to both the Ministry of Health and various regional governments.
Finally and as an example, it is worth mentioning a study that we carried out on the social return on investment in relation to HIV treatments, according to which for every euro invested in antiretroviral therapy, there would be a return on investment of 6.79 Euros in Spain.
To carry out this works, HEALTH VALUE has experts in health economics, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, value dossiers, research design, epidemiology, biostatistics, clinical pharmacology and clinical pharmacy.
How does HEALTH VALUE differentiate itself from other healthcare consulting firms in Spain?
HEALTH VALUE is a medium-sized company that provides personalized treatment to clients and allows great flexibility in the immediate resolution of challenges that may arise in the projects. We know how the health authorities think because we were part of health authorities for 11 years. We also know what the needs of the Pharmaceutical Industry are because we were also part of it for 13 years. This ambivalence value is unique and exclusive to HEALTH VALUE in Spain.
HEALTH VALUE has currently more than 280 publications. Over 21 years, we have carried out more than 200 economic analyses, more than 70 price and reimbursement dossiers, and dozens of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
As a trailblazer in the healthcare industry, what are some of the key challenges you have faced, and how did you overcome them?
The challenges we have faced over 21 years have been mainly of two types. Firstly, the regulatory changes in Spain, which have progressively provided regulations that confirm the need for economic analyzes to justify the price and reimbursement of new medicines. And, secondly, the progress in the methodology of economic analyzes and in the applications intended to carry them out. HEALTH VALUE has accepted both challenges and has developed them with the highest standards of quality and excellence.
What are your thoughts on the current state of healthcare in Spain, and how does HEALTH VALUE contribute to improving it?
Although, as I indicated before, in Spain there is regulation on efficiency studies of new drugs, it is expected that these requirements will soon be developed in a new regulation. It is essential that the need for pharmacoeconomic analyzes be regulated with clarity and determination. Currently there are some sectors that view efficiency analyzes with some skepticism. All actors must be clear that these analyzes must be considered the final phase of the development of a new drug. HEALTH VALUE is open to collaborating with the Spanish health authorities to achieve these objectives.
Can you share your vision for the future of HEALTH VALUE and the healthcare industry in Spain?
I began my career in Health Administration in 1979, 44 years ago. The perspective that such a long period gives makes me optimistic. Suffice it to say that a little before that date (in 1978) the first legislation on clinical trials in Spain was published. Today the evaluation of drugs meets strict criteria of scientific and methodological rigor. It is expected that in the future the systematization of drug evaluation will reach even greater heights.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders in the healthcare sector?
I don’t think I can give advice to anyone. However, if I could give any advice, it would be to adhere to the culture of effort; because, as Lucius Anneus Seneca said 20 centuries ago “everything honest is difficult.”
