Focusing on the sustainability of the pharmaceutical system, the strengthening of innovation, and the shaping of a modern pharmaceutical policy framework, PhARMA Innovation Forum (PIF) participated in the 7th Health Conference of ProtoThema. PIF President and Roche Hellas General Manager, Ms. Kavita Patel, took part in the panel discussion titled “Pharmaceutical Policy: Innovation, Production and Sustainability,” highlighting the need to transition to a more predictable, sustainable, and value-based healthcare system that effectively responds to patients’ needs.
Ms. Patel emphasized the strategic importance of adequately funding innovation as a cornerstone for the sustainability of the National Health System, stating: “When we invest in pharmaceutical innovation, we generate measurable returns, as for every €1 invested in medicines, up to €4 are returned as overall value to society. The Innovation Fund is a positive step. However, it is essential to ensure that in the coming years the Fund will be adequately financed, so that it can substantially contribute to timely patient access.”
At the same time, she underlined the importance of digitalization and data-driven decision-making: “We all recognize that resources are not unlimited, and therefore the targeted restructuring of pharmaceutical policy is the only sustainable way to ensure that no patient is left without access to innovative therapies when they need them. The full utilization of Real-World Data and the expansion of e-prescription systems must become a central pillar of the healthcare system and lead us toward a Value-Based healthcare model. Data should be treated as a strategic development tool and not merely as a means of fiscal control.”
Special reference was also made to the need to provide incentives for Research & Development (R&D) in order to strengthen the country’s competitiveness: “Greece has made remarkable progress in creating incentives for domestic manufacturing, but we must demonstrate the same political commitment to Research & Development (R&D). Out of the €52 billion invested in Europe, Greece attracts only €161 million. By improving the framework and providing the right investment incentives, we can unlock the country’s potential and expand the clinical trials market to €500 million annually, positioning Greece as an innovation hub in Southern Europe.”
In closing, the President of PIF stressed: “We cannot secure the future of healthcare with tools of the past. Countries that recognize and reward innovation attract investments, create new jobs, and strengthen growth. We need a radical restructuring of pharmaceutical policy, including the abolition of outdated structural barriers such as the ‘5/11 criterion,’ moving away from short-term horizontal revenue-collection measures such as excessive clawbacks, and transitioning to models where reimbursement is linked to therapeutic benefit and the broader value of innovation. PhARMA Innovation Forum, representing 31 leading pharmaceutical companies, will continue to support the necessary reforms for a sustainable and innovative healthcare system centered on patients.”.
