Large research and pharmaceutical industry companies are leaving the Baltic States

The contribution of clinical research to the country could be much greater if the state support for it was correspondingly greater, the leading researcher of many international studies, professor Dainis Krieviņš, told the LETA agency at the conference on clinical research.

He observed that research in general in the Baltic States is decreasing. For the past seven years, large research companies, pharmaceutical industry companies have been moving away from the Baltics, including Latvia, because they do not seem attractive due to the small population. Also, Latvia is not attractive for companies due to the unavailability of new medicines. Namely, after researching the new medicines, they enter the market, but not to the patient, because the patient cannot afford them due to the high price, while the medicine compensation system is poor in the professor’s assessment.

“Why should big companies spend a lot of money to develop clinical research in Latvia, if they will develop it better in those countries where these medicines will also be compensated,” Krieviņš said.

At the same time, he pointed out that Latvia also has its strengths. For example, the country has good professional researchers, responsive patients who want to participate in research, get the latest medicines. In the professor’s opinion, it should be used for the development of research and in the future, not to lose the important economic benefits for patients, the health care system and the country.

Speaking about future challenges, Krieviņš pointed out that it is important to develop a good research team, because Latvia has good leading researchers who are recognized in the world, but at the same time, nurses are also needed for a stronger team. Digitization is also of great importance, as research comes to an environment where it is organized. For the time being, digitalization is causing problems in Latvia.

Clinical research mostly takes place in the USA, Switzerland, Germany, England. In order to interest research companies from other countries, Krieviņš believes that Latvia should promote itself not only at the local, but also at the international level. The country must become more competitive and promote itself.

“Many countries financially support research themselves. We are one of those that allocate very minimal funds to clinical research and its development. Thanks to the six research grants announced by the Ministry of Health and the Latvian Science Council in December, but in general state support from the Ministry of Economy or Investment and Development of Latvia agencies could be much bigger,” Krievins said.

He also invites the information room, the press to inform more often about positive cases of patient treatment, benefits that are rarely heard about in everyday life.

By researching new drugs or devices, scientific techniques can lead to better treatment methods in the fight against diseases and pathologies that are constantly evolving and transforming, explained the professor. Patients also benefit from research, because they go for regular visits and additional laboratory analyses, receive the most modern possible medications for the treatment of the specific pathology, but for doctors, participation in research raises qualifications and the opportunity to be recognized at the international level.