In its position paper “The Value of Innovation in Healthcare,” AmCham highlights the importance of investment in innovative medicines, medical devices, and healthcare technologies for improved treatment outcomes, patients’ quality of life, and the long-term sustainability of the healthcare system. Innovation should be viewed as a strategic investment in health and the economy, with its demonstrated health and socioeconomic benefits taken into account.

AmCham proposes five key areas for action:

Focus on Value for Patients – funding decisions for therapies and medical devices should take into account demonstrated patient outcomes, quality of life, and the total cost of care.

Faster Access – reduce the time lag between the approval of innovative therapies in the European Union and their availability to patients in Croatia, and establish transparent and predictable funding pathways for medical devices and related procedures.

Data Infrastructure – establish and strengthen national disease registries and link data on therapies, medical devices, and patient outcomes, while ensuring data protection and the secure exchange of information.

From Spending to Investment – recognize the long-term health and economic benefits of investment in prevention and innovation, ensure multi-year healthcare budget planning, and timely settlement of payment obligations to suppliers.

Value-Based Procurement – in addition to price, assess demonstrable clinical and functional quality, maintenance, training, and reliability of supply, while preserving market competition.