Novartis to Expand Investment in Health Data Research and Digital Healthcare

Original Title: Novartis to Increase Investment in Health Data Research and Digital Healthcare Source: Zhou Dao Shanghai

At the 31st Shanghai Mayor’s International Business Leaders’ Advisory Council held on October 20, Dr. Joerg Reinhardt, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Novartis, called on Shanghai to further strengthen the research and utilization of big data in healthcare, optimize the allocation of medical resources, and promote the development of the city’s health sector.

Lin Haode has been invited to attend the conference for the seventh time, witnessing the rapid changes in Shanghai and the significant progress in its healthcare sector. He stated, “Shanghai has played a pivotal role in China’s healthcare reform. The city has also pioneered the open access and utilization of public data. The mining and effective use of big data, along with the application of digital technologies, help drive key policy decisions, optimize the allocation of medical resources, and inject greater momentum into Shanghai’s efforts to build itself into an Asian medical hub and a first-class healthy city in Asia.”

As a key founding member of the International Business Leaders’ Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai, Novartis has submitted proposals for two consecutive years at the council on leveraging digital technologies and big data to enhance healthcare services. “Deepening our understanding of treatment models, clinical outcomes, and how both relate to healthcare investment can drive improvements in clinical diagnosis and treatment,” said Joerg Reinhardt. “In the future, we will continue to increase our investments, actively conduct health data research, and explore digital healthcare solutions, contributing to the realization of ‘Healthy China 2030.’”

Lin Haode put forward three suggestions at the Shanghai Mayor's International Business Leaders' Advisory Council meeting:

I. Deepen Shanghai’s healthcare reform and further strengthen the collection, analysis, and application of health data;

II. Balance the utility and security of health data, and expand access to health data;

III. Fully leverage electronic health records, establish unified standards, and conduct scientific research.

On October 1 this year, the Interim Measures of Shanghai Municipality for the Opening of Public Data, the first local government regulation in China specifically targeting government data opening, officially came into effect. It aims to promote and regulate the opening and utilization of public data, enhance government governance capabilities and public service levels, and advance the development of the digital economy.

Novartis’s operations in China encompass Novartis Oncology, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, and Sandoz. The company has established three major manufacturing sites across China and set up R&D centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Jiangsu. As a globally renowned pharmaceutical and healthcare company, Novartis has successfully launched more than 70 innovative medicines in China and planned to submit 50 new drug applications between 2019 and 2023. In recent years, Novartis has continuously expanded local collaborations in China to advance the digitalization of healthcare. This March, Novartis Pharmaceuticals signed a new strategic cooperation memorandum with Tencent, aiming to integrate innovative medicines, artificial intelligence, and social platforms to better benefit patients with chronic diseases.