One of the challenges facing enterprises and social actors in the health sector today is sustainability, and in particular the consequences of global change on the well-being of people everywhere. Human health is increasingly exposed to the effects of climate change, which are having a growing impact at both the social and economic levels. The data collected in recent years show an alarming picture: increased mortality linked to heatwaves, with Europe one of the worst-hit areas; the spread of viruses in regions that previously seemed immune; an exacerbation of diseases that in the past were more easily contained; negative effects on fertility.
These phenomena have significant economic and social consequences, from increased health spending – which is already under strong pressure, especially in Italy – to growing inequalities. This scenario is destined to deteriorate rapidly, given the exponential nature of the climate crisis, which is forcing scientists to continually revise their projections.
While there is now a widespread awareness of the environmental crisis and while the pathway to sustainability has been mapped out, the transition is being tested by geopolitical instability. The world is experiencing conflicts, fragmentation, and a partial rethinking of some environmental policies. Europe in particular – while confirming its Green Deal targets – recognizes that, without an adequate impact assessment, some measures could undermine industrial competitiveness. The search for solutions is on but the risk remains that, as the political world becomes less and less focused on sustainability, its urgency will weaken and its priority be lowered.
Against this background one of the few certainties confirmed by the data is that the cost of inaction exceeds that of action. Business therefore has a crucial role to play. More and more enterprises – notably in the pharmaceutical sector – have chosen to include sustainability in their long-term strategies, thus making it a lever for competitiveness. This produces benefits not just for the environment but also for the people working in those businesses, the communities in which they operate, and the economic and financial performance of the businesses themselves.
The positive effects of these commercial decisions extend along the entire supply chain. Synergies between businesses and suppliers can act as a driver of competitiveness and innovation and accelerate the transition to more sustainable solutions and production models, for both products and processes.
However, the commitment of the business world alone is not enough. In line with the One Health approach – which recognizes the interconnection between public health and the health of the environment – coordinated action by institutions, enterprises and citizens is needed, based on a constructive and continuous dialogue. Only in this way will it be possible to achieve sustainability goals without compromising the future of strategic sectors such as pharmaceuticals, which through innovation and the production of drugs, vaccines and active ingredients make a decisive contribution to health and economic growth.
Certain recent policy proposals in Italy – such as the review of the pharmaceutical legislation or the revised wastewater treatment directive – show the risks of adopting any given approach without engaging with industry. Without dialogue, Europe’s competitiveness could be undermined, to the sole advantage of global actors like the United States and China. So too could access to treatment be threatened. This prospect is particularly challenging for Italy, which has earned a position as one of the key European hubs for the production and export of products for the health sector.