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The next steps to improve patients’ quality of life and better manage the disease. Equal access to pharmaceutical innovation is crucial

Athens, 29 January 2025 – The new interventions and initiatives that start immediately and now shape the National Policy on Cancer were the focus of the workshop held at the initiative of the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (SFEE) and the participation of the Ministry of Health, the scientific and academic community, and the patient representatives, at the offices of the European Parliament in Athens. For the third consecutive year, Stakeholders had the opportunity to discuss and submit their views on the development of the National Strategy for Cancer, aiming at better management and care of patients.

The President of the Board of Directors of SFEE, Mr. Olympios Papadimitriou, underlined that the presence of all stakeholders at the meeting demonstrates the importance of the problem of cancer management and confirms the value of cooperation and consensus, not only on this disease but also on every health challenge. He also stressed the importance of ensuring timely access to new and innovative oncology treatments and underlined the commitment of SFEE member companies to continue investing in R&D of new treatments and solutions, in order to ensure that all patients have quick and equal access to the best available treatments.

The Minister of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, welcomed the initiative, underlining the importance of this debate and the need to establish it as an institution. He stressed that the formulation of a national strategy on cancer is not the exclusive responsibility of the Ministry of Health, but requires cross-sectoral cooperation and coordination with other Ministries. In addition, he pledged to resume today’s discussion at the Prime Minister level, reinforcing the importance of dialogue.

At the same time, he referred to two critical interventions that will substantially improve the care of cancer patients. First, the setting of a separate budget for the reimbursement of biomarkers, a move that will have multiple benefits both for patients, ensuring faster and more accurate diagnosis, and for the health system, through the optimal allocation of resources. Second, the completion and full operation of the National Registry of Neoplasias, a long-standing demand of health institutions, which will contribute to the systematic recording and monitoring of oncology cases, enhancing the effectiveness of health policies.

The MEP of the Movement for Change and Permanent Member of the Public Health Committee (SANT), Mr. Nikos Papandreou, stressed that the shortage of essential medicines is a big problem. But Europe has understood the criticality of the shortage of raw materials and the aim is to bring production back to European soil. He added that there are important tools for the treatment of cancer that we want to become much faster and much more effective.

A discussion moderated by journalist Apostolos Maggiriadis followed, where the contribution was made by: Kostas Athanasakis, Professor of the University of West Attica, George Vasilopoulos, President Hellenic Society of Hematology, Nikos Dedes, Secretary General of the Patients Association, Eleftherios Zervas, Treasurer of the Hellenic Respiratory Society, George Kapetanakis, President Hellenic Cancer Federation, Eleni Kourea, President Hellenic Society of Pathological Anatomy, Zenia Saridaki, President Society of Pathological Anatomy Oncologists-Pathologists of Greece, Kyriakos Souliotis, Professor of the University of Peloponnese, George Stylios, President of the Social Affairs Committee, Dimitrios Doganis, Secretary General of the Hellenic Society of Paediatric Hematology and Oncology, Dimitris Boumbas, President Central Health Council (KESY), as well as representatives of the companies of SFEE’s oncology platform, the Board of Directors and the management of SFEE.

The main points of the speeches:

Mr. George Kapetanakis, President of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Cancer Federation – ELLOC and President of the Association of Cancer Patients of Pieria in his intervention stressed that: “Cancer is a big issue, but for the first time we have progress compared to previous years. We do, however, need more support, perhaps financial, to improve disease management and patients’ quality of life. It takes the mobilization of all actors to join the changes and a National Plan could bring the country forward. Already 20 countries in Europe have a National Plan to fight cancer. Funding also needs to be found to support it from the plan.”

Dr. Kyriakos Souliotis, Professor of Health Policy and Dean of the School of Social and Political Sciences of the University of Peloponnese, said: “There is progress compared to last year, but the issue is proper care, to the right patient at the right cost. I believe our job is to “illuminate” the central administration. Action plans are important, but they must also be properly implemented and implemented, along specific lines.”

Mrs. Zenia Saridaki, President of the Hellenic Society of Oncology Pathologists, thanked the Minister of Health for the work that has been done and noted: “When digitalization and biomarkers advance, we will have a cosmogony in Greece, we will have primary data and the disease management policy will change in general. The quality of life of patients has already improved, but other interventions are needed, such as the Ecothen program, better cooperation between doctors, oncology councils, palliative care, etc.”

Dr. Kostas Athanasakis, Professor at the University of West Attica stated: “I will focus on the creation of a National Action Plan that will be close to the European one. The plan must focus on all areas, from prevention to rehabilitation. Moreover, it is not only necessary to implement it, but it is also necessary to monitor its progress. The targets are important, but public monitoring is also needed of what has been achieved, what has not been achieved, and for what reasons.”

Dr. Eleftherios Zervas, Treasurer of the Hellenic Respiratory Society and Coordinator of the Lung Cancer Working Group noted that: “In addition to the treatment and the goals we have for the reimbursement of biomarkers, we need to go a little further back in the value of screening. And lung cancer needs to be included in the screening program. It is very important to be able to diagnose and treat lung cancer at an early stage.”

Dr. George Vasilopoulos, President of the Hellenic Society of Hematology, noted: “We consider the issue of biomarkers, along with therapeutic protocols, to be very important. We would like greater penetration of generic drugs and biosimilars. We must not miss the innovation train and at the same time we need to support domestic production of medicines.”

Dr. Dimitrios Doganis, Pediatrician, Oncologist, Director of the Oncology Department of the Athens Children’s General Hospital “Panagiotis and Aglaia Kyriakou” stated: “We now have innovative treatments in our country and children today receive the treatments as in Europe and America. But the question is where these children go after their treatment, when they are over 16 years old. They leave pediatric hospitals and don’t know where they will be treated next.”

Mrs. Eleni Kourea, President of the Hellenic Society of Pathological Anatomy, stated: “The initiative of the Ministry of Health on biomarkers is excellent. It is less than 1% of pharmaceutical expenditure, but offers huge savings. It is important that patients have access to biomarkers, but also that they are immediately prescribed and executed, which speeds up diagnosis. Diagnosis is a process with many dimensions, laborious and complex. It takes time and constant training. People have left the laboratories without being replaced. Staffing efforts are underway, but now the samples and the quality load have increased.”

Mr. Dimitris Boumbas, President KESY noted: “The role of KESY is to educate doctors and inform them about the issue of cancer. Specialization is also important, in addition to general oncology. We are ready, after the National Action Plan, to work on palliative care and the centers that will provide it.”

Mr. Nikos Dedes, Secretary General of the Greek Patients Association stressed: “What interests me in today’s discussion is what planning is being done for the implementation of interventions, but also the monitoring of their implementation. National plans are very important, as is the procedure followed for their implementation.

Mr. George Stylios, President of the Social Affairs Committee, stressed that “In order for a reform and a National Plan to become a reality and proceed, it is necessary for those who will implement it to understand it. In addition, we need data and data that we can process so that we can then have political interventions.”

On her part, the President of PIF and President and CEO of AbbVie for Greece, Cyprus and Malta, Mrs. Lambrina Barbetaki, addressing the Minister of Health, noted that the initiative on biomarkers and especially in cancer, where every day counts, is important. “The issue, however, is how to make it even easier for patients to access new treatments, especially in the Greek market, and how we can digitize and simplify procedures in oncology boards so that patients do not wait months to start their treatment. It is also crucial to compensate and fund new medicines that change patients’ quality of life. The value of these medicines must be recognized,” Μρς. Barbetaki said in her intervention.

The General Manager of Amgen Hellas, Mr. Danny Donkers, noted how important patient care is and that much remains to be done for them. “Everyone who participates in this meeting should have this orientation,” he said.

Mr. Spyros Filiotis, Vice President and General Manager of Pharmaserve – Lilly SA, expressed his concern about how the medicine issue is being addressed, especially at the European level. “We have a two-tier situation and patients who can pay for their medicine will have access to it, while patients who can’t pay will not. We need to find a solution to this.”