Local Report the Netherlands
Because there is more to do
Bristol Myers Squibb’s mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. We firmly believe that there is more we can do – beyond delivering innovative medicines – to help support patients and their loved ones. It is this believe that led to the creation of the initiative ‘Because there is more to do’.
We asked people for their opinion of BMS and pharmaceutical companies in general; what are their unmet needs; and what more they think pharma can do to help support patients along their treatment journeys and contribute to society.
This report presents findings of the Dutch patient & professional survey.* A public EU wide survey** was also conducted, which was open to people across eight countries.
Identifying key needs across the patient journey in the Netherlands
Across the patient journey there are a broad range of needs, dependent on individuals’ exact situation and conditions. However patients, carers, patient associations and physicians in the Netherlands identify the following areas as key needs across the patient journey.
Symptom awareness
Early signs detection, supporting disease prevention and educational activities
Diagnosis
Improving patients’ understanding of their condition
Supporting physicians in determining their diagnosis
Treatment plan
Involving patients in the treatment decision-making process
Ensuring access to innovative treatments
Follow-up
Helping patients manage treatment side effects
Present day
Coping with the financial burden of the condition
Helping patients adapt to living with an illness
Support for carers
Symptom awareness / Diagnosis / Treatment plan / Follow-up / Present day
Helping patients deal with emotional impacts of the condition on them and their family
Increasing the time physicians spend with their patients
How can we help support patients, carers & physicians in the Netherlands?
Patients, carers, patient associations and physicians in the Netherlands identified solutions that can improve patient experiences along their journey.
Symptom awareness / Diagnosis
Disease screening/prevention programs
Including disease prevention education initiatives and screening programs
Diagnosis / Treatment plan
Physician capacity/efficiency
Potential collaboration with the medical community to develop tools or services to increase efficiency
Diagnosis / Treatment Plan / Follow-up / Present day
Helping to support patients to cope with the financial burden of illness
Emotional support
Formalise emotional support programs for patients, their families and caregivers
Diagnosis / Follow-up / Present day
Disease education
Access to information and help to support in understanding the condition, treatment options and their side effects
Online or face-to-face interactions between healthcare professionals & patients
Potentially also helping to support both emotional and educational needs of patients
Follow-up / Present day
Online or face-to-face interaction between patients
Support for carers
What's next?
This survey is the starting point for a deeper engagement with patient groups and the healthcare community in the Netherlands. We will now explore with partners, ideas for new initiatives and activities that respond to the needs that people have voiced.
* The patient & professional survey of stakeholders in the Netherlands was based on two anonymous online surveys: one with feedback from 120 primary care physicians. cardiologists and oncologists; another with responses from 30 oncology or atrial fibrillation patients. and caregivers of patients with these conditions. In addition. exploratory qualitative research was done with patient advocacy groups. to gain greater insights.
** Respondents from Austria, the Netherlands. Denmark. Finland. the Netherlands. Norway, Switzerland and Sweden contributed to the public survey.
We firmly believe we should always strive to do more to help patients, beyond the provision of medicines, and work in partnership across healthcare to enable this. Learn more about ‘Because there is more to do’.
Watch our employees' response to the feedback from patients, carers, patient groups, healthcare professionals and people in general, in a series of personal video clips.
On 30th September we hosted an online summit with leading experts across 8 European countries to explore and debate the #1 finding of our ‘Because there is more to do’ surveys: Patients’ need for mental and emotional support throughout their treatment journeys.