Pharma Innovation Forum Greece highlights the value of innovation at the National Congress of the Hellenic Association of Health Economics.
Pharma Innovation Forum (PIF) and its members continue to lead the public dialogue on health, focusing on promoting pharmaceutical innovation as a pillar of sustainability and equitable access to innovative treatments. The General Secretary of PIF and CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb Greece, Mrs. Elizabeth Prodromou, participated in the 2024 Panhellenic Conference on Health Economics and Policies (ESDY) in the Roundtable discussion on “Proposals and Reforms for National Pharmaceutical Policy.”
Pharmaceutical innovation was at the heart of the discussions, with Mrs. Prodomou stating: “Pharmaceutical innovation is an investment in public health. It is a safeguard for the national system. It is by no means another fiscal burden. In Greece, innovative medicines continue to be viewed through the misleading lens of high costs, despite the fact that we have some of the lowest on-patent prices in Europe.”
In her speech, Mrs. Prodomou highlighted groundbreaking technologies such as mRNA vaccines, gene and cell therapies, and first-in-class treatments, emphasizing that 40% of the new medicines approved by the EMA in 2022 were classified as high therapeutic value or pioneering by the Organization. She also presented data demonstrating the benefits of these treatments in improving life expectancy and quality of life for patients suffering from serious chronic conditions, as well as the savings achieved by European countries and health systems from making these treatments available to patients.
Furthermore, she emphasized the need for rationalization of pharmaceutical policy, pointing out that clawback remains a barrier to sustainable access to cutting-edge therapies. She addressed the importance of a new framework that ensures a stable financial environment, improves access, and evaluates the clinical benefit of medicines. “We cannot ignore the progress in the science of medicine. It is there. Every step in these astonishing and exciting scientific breakthroughs is not just another therapeutic algorithm. Let us all align ourselves in the same direction to build a healthier system that serves our common purpose, the patient.”
Finally, PIF’s Managing Director, Mr. Ioannis Kotsiopoulos, participated as moderator in the discussion “The Developmental Dimension of Biomedical Technology in Greece for a Sustainable Future,” highlighting proposals for strengthening biomedical technology, promoting clinical trials, and creating a sustainable investment environment.
