Within MAECON, I am working on various innovations in the field of effective medicine use and medication adherence. Amongst other things, we perform research on digital methods to both monitor and support patients in medicine use. Think for example of a digital pill bottle that could send patients a text message when they have to take their medication. Research on medication adherence is important, because we know that around half of the people using medication are therapy non-adherent. This means that the patients forget to take their medicines, do intentionally not take them or do not use them in the correct way. The consequence is that patients sometimes are prescribed unnecessary additional medication, have more health issues or sometimes even needlessly die. This can be prevented with correct medicine use. In turn, this could avoid a lot of healthcare costs as well.
One of the challenges was to formulate a good business case in which the business sector, the insurance sector and the UMCG could recognize themselves. In such an innovation process, you have to have a clear vision that is supported by all involved stakeholders. Additionally, you have to think of the accompanying message. Here, you should think of questions such as: how will the innovation reach the patient? Is it user-friendly? Is this applicable for the insurance company and what is the (cost) effectiveness? Taking care of the funding is also really important. And of course, you want the expertise Center to stay sustainable and that the outcomes of the research can actually be implemented in daily health care for the benefit of the patient.
The Innovation Center has helped me to establish connections with companies, visibility, positioning in a global playing field, as well as drawing up contracts. They advised about appropriate margins you can charge and about getting patents. They helped us drafting the business case, but also brainstormed with me on how to put the Expertise Center on display. You can only have an impact if that what you are doing is visible for others. That is why you are trying to stand out in a global market. Thinking about your own unique selling points and making a competitive analysis are important for your positioning. In short, the Innovation Center has practically supported us during every challenge.
The Innovation Center has helped me to establish connections with companies, advised me about patents, helped us drafting the business case… In short, the Innovation Center has practically supported us during every challenge.
