A dialogue between PIF and ENASEL on the truth behind access to innovation.
As part of the ENASEL 2025 Annual Patient Conference, the session titled “Access to Innovation Under Threat: Debunking Myths, Revealing Facts” was successfully held, co-organized by PhARMA Innovation Forum (PIF) and ENASEL.
The initiative aimed to highlight, through evidence-based dialogue and data analysis, the real obstacles patients face in accessing innovative therapies, while also debunking the main myths that often distort the discussion around pharmaceutical innovation.
At the opening of the session, Mr. Ioannis Kotsiopoulos, General Manager of PhARMA Innovation Forum, emphasized: “When we talk about pharmaceutical innovation, we are not talking about theories. We are talking about lives being saved; about people regaining their tomorrow. About patients who can plan their future with hope and dignity. Today’s session seeks to dismantle the myths that often distort the public discourse around innovation and to bring reality back where it belongs- to the data, to patients’ needs, and to the prospects of a sustainable healthcare system. Innovation is not a burden; it is an investment in the sustainability and cohesion of our society.”
He then moderated the panel, which focused on debunking the most prominent “myths” surrounding innovation through evidence-based presentations and an exchange of views among industry representatives.
The discussion featured Ms. Vicky Oikonomou, Government Affairs, Strategic Affairs & Patient Support Director at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Ms. Penny Retsa, Market Access & External Affairs Director at AbbVie and Mr. George Tsiakalakis, Market Access & External Affairs Lead at Bristol Myers Squibb, each speaker, from their perspective, highlighted the key issues shaping access to innovation in Greece.
Ms. Vicky Oikonomou emphasized that debunking myths about innovation requires dialogue, evidence, and collaboration. She notably stated: “PhARMA Innovation Forum and its member companies actively contribute to shifting the conversation from prejudice to data; from impressions to knowledge. Only in this way can we shape access policies based on real value and patients’ actual needs.”
Ms. Penny Retsa debunked the myth that innovative medicines are expensive, emphasizing:
“In Greece, we have some of the lowest medicine prices in Europe. It’s crucial to focus not just on the price, but on the value that innovative therapies provide. Often, the costs associated with innovation are offset- partially or even entirely by savings in the healthcare system, such as fewer hospitalizations, avoided surgeries, and quicker patient return to daily life.”
Mr. George Tsiakalakis highlighted the importance of collaboration between patients and the pharmaceutical industry: “For PhARMA Innovation Forum and for us, its member companies, meaningful dialogue with patient representatives is a prerequisite for the advancement of the healthcare system. Through this collaboration, we can develop realistic and sustainable solutions that ensure timely and equitable access to innovative therapies in Greece.”
The discussion concluded with interventions from ENASEL patient representatives and questions from the audience, confirming that timely access to innovation requires coordinated actions from all stakeholders: the government, the pharmaceutical industry, and the patient community.
In conclusion, Mr. Kotsiopoulos emphasized: “Innovation is not the cause of pressure on healthcare systems. Ιt is part of the solution. A national strategy is needed that links funding to value, accelerates reimbursement processes, and strengthens transparency. Only in this way can we ensure a fair and sustainable healthcare system accessible to all. The collaboration between PIF and ENASEL is a prime example of policy co-creation based on evidence, transparency, and a shared vision: a sustainable and equitable healthcare system that guarantees equal access for all patients to the therapies of the future.”
