SFEE Patient Think Tank meeting: Cooperation and national pharma strategy
Press Release
Athens, December 6, 2024.– As part of the ongoing information exchange and discussion between the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (SFEE) and the representatives of Patients’ Associations, the meeting of the SFEE Patient Think Tank was held on December 6, 2024, at a central hotel in Athens. The meeting was attended by more than 60 representatives of Patients’ Associations, as well as executives of the Association and its member companies.
During the discussion, SFEE representatives highlighted the serious consequences of the underfunding of pharmaceutical expenditure in our country, which include significant burdens on pharmaceutical companies (exorbitant compulsory returns) and on patient copayment. At the same time, less pharmaceutical innovation has been entering our country in recent years. Greek patients face a delay in accessing innovative medicines, as recorded in the EFPIA Patients W.A.I.T. Indicator 2023 study. The State needs to increase public funding for medicines. At the same time, resources need to be managed efficiently in healthcare and spending needs to be rationalized through digital tools and transparency. No matter how much funding increases, the problem will remain unsolved if it is not combined with rationalization of demand and full implementation of substantial reforms, such as the creation and expansion of therapeutic protocols and patient registries and the use of digital tools to improve control and increase the effectiveness of investment. In addition, they underlined that through the formulation of a national strategy for medicine that enhances the efficiency and sustainability of the healthcare system, the benefits of innovation for both patients and society can be ensured. Finally, particular emphasis was placed on strengthening clinical trials, through additional incentives that will attract investments and increase their number in the country.
In the discussion that followed, Patient Associations highlighted as key demands timely and equal access to pharmaceutical innovation, which remains difficult due to various obstacles, such as the lack of adequate public funding. This exacerbates inequalities in access to treatments and healthcare services, as Greece records one of the highest private spending in Europe, creating insecurity and placing a financial burden on patients and their families.
Addressing these challenges requires coordinated actions by all stakeholders and a holistic approach, a national pharma strategy, that ensures universal and timely access to innovative treatments, enhancing the sustainability of the healthcare system and ensuring the sustainability of pharmaceutical companies and their employees.
