Why does the UK lag far behind much of Europe for patient access to new innovations, asks Novartis' MD for UK and Ireland

Brexit, political instability, economic uncertainty, an aging population increasingly suffering from chronic conditions, a cost-effectiveness watchdog looking to save every penny possible when paying for new medicines and a National Health Service (NHS) reportedly facing its worst crisis in generations – the challenges facing the UK health sector appear almost insurmountable.

But it was exactly these challenges – what he calls opportunities – that inspired Haseeb Ahmad to return to his homeland earlier this year and take up the role of managing director (MD), UK and Ireland, for the Swiss pharma giant Novartis (NOVN: VX), joining from Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) where he was MD for Greece, Cyprus and Malta.

“As a Brit who is passionate about healthcare, it was absolutely the right time to come back to the UK,” he tells The Pharma Letter.