Health & Pharmaceuticals: A New Geopolitical Arena?

The COVID crisis highlighted France’s heavy dependence over 80% on pharmaceutical active ingredients produced in Asia. This situation stems from France’s pursuit of the highest quality of care at the lowest cost, a model that is only sustainable through substantial public subsidies to the healthcare system.

Public resistance to taxation has made it increasingly difficult to maintain this approach, shifting pressure onto healthcare professionals and the pharmaceutical industry. This has led to measures such as limiting reimbursement for costly imported therapies, shortening the duration of patent protection, and systematically pushing down drug prices.
As a result, declining margins in the French pharmaceutical industry have coincided with rising research costs. In response, companies have adapted by relocating both research and the production of new medicines abroad. This session will focus on a critical discussion of the relevance of reshoring strategies, as well as complementary measures to better address this geopolitical challenge.