Mark Yeeles, VP Industrial Automation, Schneider Electric, examines five important areas pharmaceutical facilities need to be aware of to transform their operations and improve production.
Scientific advances have made it possible to live longer. One UN study predicts that people aged over 65 will represent 16% of the global population by 2050, up from 9%, and the proportion of over 80s will triple. However, an ageing population increases the demand for healthcare at a time when 30% of the population already has no access to essential medicines. The pharmaceutical industry faces a long-term challenge and opportunity to produce medicines and treatments in greater quantities, such as those used to manage conditions in later life.