Prof Oliver Schöffski is the author of a recent report into access to innovative drugs for twenty diseases, such as asthma, heart disease and diabetes. The report found that there are now disturbing gaps in provision for patients across most European countries.

The study, which is based on a survey of recent medical literature, also finds that many of the newer medicines on offer could save money in the long run by reducing the need for expensive hospital treatments later. "The problem", he writes, "is that financial resources are scarce and doctors do not have the freedom to prescribe modern drugs". He also blames a lack of access to specialists and poor information about new treatments for the low usage of some of the best medicines.

Oliver Schöffski has been Professor of Business Administration and director of the Centre for Health Management at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany since October 2000. From May 1990 to September 2000 he was a lecturer and researcher at the Institute of Insurance Economics, University of Hanover, and managing director of the Center for Health Economics and Health System Research.

He has published eight books as well as more than 130 national and international articles in books and journals. He is editor and main author of a book about health economic evaluations which is the most comprehensive manual on the subject in Germany.