The key facts

  • Roche held Media Dialogue 2026 in Basel: healthcare is 'infrastructure', not an expense item.
  • Migraine in Germany in 2017 affected 15.5 million adults and cost the economy about €100 billion (~3% of GDP).
  • According to the speakers, investments in prevention could save 60 million lives by 2040 and add $12 trillion to global GDP.

Healthcare as an investment, not an expense

Investments in healthcare innovation can stimulate economic growth, boost productivity and strengthen countries' resilience — this was the conclusion reached by executives and researchers at the Roche Media Dialogue 2026, held at the headquarters of the Swiss pharmaceutical company in Basel. Participants called for expanding access to innovative treatments and viewing health spending as long-term investment rather than costs. Taking part in the discussion were Michael Oberreiter, head of global external affairs at Roche International, Dennis Ostwald, CEO of the WiFOR Institute, and Joerg Rupp, head of the pharmaceutical business for international regions at Roche.

Estimates of innovation's contribution

Oberreiter said that health should be recognized as a key factor of economic growth and national security, warning that the growing burden of non-communicable diseases places additional strain on healthcare systems and economies. He cited research according to which pharmaceutical innovations accounted for an average of 40% of the increase in global life expectancy in 1984–2000. In his words, improved health is linked to roughly one third of the economic growth of developed economies over the past century. He also cited estimates under which investments in preventive medicine and medical innovation could save 60 million lives by 2040. 'Healthcare innovation is not a cost to society, but an investment that yields substantial socio-economic returns,' he said.

Migraine as an example of economic damage

Ostwald noted that the healthcare sector, traditionally seen as a financial burden, is increasingly acting as a driver of growth and innovation. He presented a study on the consequences of migraine in Germany: in 2017, an estimated 15.5 million adults suffered from it, causing about 836 million days of headache and 547 million hours of lost paid work annually. The total economic impact, taking into account lost paid and unpaid time, is estimated at almost €100 billion ($116 billion) per year — roughly 3% of Germany's 2017 GDP. 'Health is not a cost center. It is essential infrastructure,' Ostwald emphasized, calling for a focus on prevention and early intervention: addressing risks at an early stage is cheaper than treating advanced diseases. He proposed that governments take health into account in economic, labor and tax policy, implement high-value innovations and measure the return on investment.

Ageing population and chronic diseases

Rupp noted that scientific progress has increased life expectancy but changed medical needs: the population is ageing and chronic diseases are spreading. According to his data, about 3 billion people worldwide live with chronic conditions, two thirds of diseases are insufficiently treated or not treated at all, half of the world's population lacks adequate access to basic medical services, and health inequality is growing. The number of people aged 65 and older, he said, could triple by 2050, increasing the burden on healthcare systems. Rupp cited estimates according to which every dollar invested in preventing non-communicable diseases could yield $7 in economic returns, while larger investments in medical innovation could save 60 million lives by 2040 and add $12 trillion to global GDP. 'A stable country needs a solid foundation, and it begins with a healthy and resilient population,' he concluded.