Labrina Barmpetaki, President of PIF: “The patient cannot wait. Access to the right treatment, at the right time, must be our common goal.”
PhARMA Innovation Forum Greece highlights the value of innovation in health, aiming at the immediate implementation of solutions to address cancer challenges at the 9th ELLOK Conference
PhARMA Innovation Forum (PIF) was present on Tuesday, February 4, at the 9th Annual Conference of ELLOK, on “People at the Center – From Theory to Practice”, enhancing the dialogue on the strategic treatment of cancer in Greece and Europe.
Ms. Labrina Barmpetaki, President of PIF and Managing Director of AbbVie, participated in the panel entitled “Towards an effective financing model”, highlighting the importance of pharmaceutical innovation and sustainable financing in the health sector. She highlighted the need for a patient-centred approach, emphasizing immediate and equal access to innovative treatments. “As PhARMA Innovation, with 29 leading innovative companies, we stand by the patient. Advances in oncology have changed life expectancy and quality of life, proving that access to new treatments is not a luxury, but a necessity. The right treatment, at the right time, for every patient, is our common goal.” She went on to point out that cancer policy must be comprehensive, covering prevention, early diagnosis and treatment. “We’re not talking about numbers; we’re talking about people. We are not talking about cost, but about investing in life.”
On the announcement of the Minister of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, for the official operation of the “National Registry of Neoplastic Diseases”, Mrs. Labrina Barmpetaki stated, “Today, World Cancer Day, is an important moment for cancer patients in Greece. We agree with today’s communication and are very pleased, as are the developments in biomarkers. Personalized treatment is the future, and every day counts for our patients. Innovation cannot wait. Neither do the patients.”
In closing, Mrs. Barmpetaki stressed the importance of the National Strategic Plan for Cancer and the Framework Agreement, pointing out that specific solutions with immediate implementation are needed. “The Framework Agreement is not just a commitment –it is the path to a sustainable health system. The fair distribution of resources, the implementation of treatment protocols and the decoupling of horizontal measures such as clawback are just some of the steps that will allow us to ensure not only a meaningful and effective Framework Agreement but also a value-based medicine system with real solutions for the patient in Greece.”
Mr. Ioannis Kotsiopoulos, General Manager of PIF, participated in the panel entitled “Unmet Medical Needs”, highlighting the urgent need for substantial political interventions, stressing: “The situation in Greece should concern us as the rates of unmet medical needs are very high compared to other European countries, which reflects the low public funding and the impact on patients’ access to necessary health services. Unmet needs should be a central issue in the HTA process, with active patient involvement. PhARMA Innovation puts forward specific proposals for a structured dialogue with the government in order to come up with a sustainable pharmaceutical policy that meets patients’ needs.”
