Thomas Weigold
THE CHANGE in leadership in Novartis Healthcare Philippines signifies exciting times ahead for the healthcare industry and the public health sector.
German national Thomas Weigold has been appointed the new managing director and country president of Novartis Healthcare Philippines, effective July 1 replacing Eric van Oppens, who served in the same role. Van Oppens will take on a new assignment as country head of Novartis Korea Ltd.
During a turnover ceremony held Wednesday, Weigold waxed optimistic and revealed plans to further strengthen partnerships with the healthcare sector stakeholders which were successfully forged by Van Oppens in his stint for almost three years.
“While a healthy growth secures the company’s future and strong position in the Philippines, innovative products will make a difference for patients,” he explained. As such, he plans to drive new product launches for diabetes, asthma and hypertension, as well as in specialty areas supported by new partnerships and business models.
Weigold most recently served as country head for Novartis Scandinavia. Under his corporate leadership Novartis recently entered into research collaboration and partnership with the Swedish government and the Karolinska Institute, host of the Nobel Prize Committee.
Key healthcare stakeholders which included physicians, public health authorities, representatives of nongovernmental organizations and members of media attended the event themed “Partnering for Access and Innovation” held at the Enderun Colleges in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
“With the support of our partners, Novartis is taking innovation a step further. We do not just develop effective, targeted medicines quickly, we also ensure that these medicines get to the patients who need them,” Weigold said.
According to him, the pharmaceutical firm is prioritizing its research efforts based on sound science and patient need by shifting to a more integrated approach. For instance, the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) takes a unique approach to pharmaceutical research by closely connecting the research laboratory and the physician’s clinic.
Novartis is also investing in research on endemic diseases working with local and international researchers to develop medicines to combat rapidly spreading conditions such as dengue fever, malaria and tuberculosis.
In his farewell presentation, Van Oppens revealed that since 2001, 350 million treatments of the Novartis anti-malaria medicine artemether+lumefantrine have been delivered globally. “This year, we will complete the delivery of over 400 million artemether+lumefantrine treatments, with more than 175,000 treatments delivered to the Philippines.”
Free TB treatment
Novartis has committed to supply 500,000 free TB treatments globally, half of which have already been delivered. The Swiss healthcare company developed two of the three drugs used in multidrug therapy for leprosy.
“We have also entered into a groundbreaking partnership with the government in order to provide low-income Filipino patients with access to an effective blood-pressure lowering medicine,” Van Oppens said.
Launched in September 2009 the DOH-Valsartan Access Program is an innovative public-private partnership with the Department of Health which made available the Novartis anti-hypertension product valsartan available at a lower price in government hospitals nationwide.
Being a German citizen with background in economics, Weigold started his career at the German affiliate of Swiss pharma giant Hoffman La Roche, rising to senior sales and marketing positions. He said he was excited to work with Filipinos “who are always smiling.”
“I will continue to focus on our Novartis core competencies in primary care and specialty care in order to improve outcomes for patients suffering from various diseases” said Weigold, a football and Formula 1 racing enthusiast.