A Healthcare System that Encourages Innovation – A Shared Responsibility for Greece’s Future
At Amgen Hellas, we serve a clear purpose: to improve patients’ quality of life by harnessing the power of science. We firmly believe that every citizen in Greece deserves equal and timely access to innovative treatments—therapies that not only extend life, but also enhance everyday living and offer hope.
As the head of a leading biotechnology company, I have witnessed how scientific progress has transformed medical practice. Therapies once thought impossible—such as gene and cell therapies, and mRNA technology—are now paving the way for new approaches to serious diseases and rare conditions. However, in order for these advancements to reach Greek patients, innovation must be accompanied by an equally modern and effective institutional framework.
Today in Greece, patients do not enjoy equal access to the medicines of tomorrow. Only 25% of new therapies approved in Europe eventually reach patients in our country with full reimbursement. This is due to a dysfunctional framework that relies excessively on cost-containment measures such as clawback, resulting in a system of unequal speeds and untapped potential.
At Amgen—and among our peers in the innovative pharmaceutical industry—we see our role as going beyond the provision of medicines. We are strategic partners in the effort to strengthen public health. Between 2019 and 2021 alone, companies in our sector invested more than €280 million in R&D, clinical trials, and public awareness initiatives in Greece—demonstrating our commitment to the country and its people.
Today, Greece needs a clear and consistent framework for pharmaceutical spending. A system that prioritizes patient access, is data-driven, and fosters partnerships and investment. Building trust between the government and the pharmaceutical industry can ensure that innovation is not a privilege, but a priority.
Equally important is the utilization of digital tools. Electronic prescribing, biomarker-based therapies, and the use of real-world data are no longer theoretical—they are actionable solutions that improve decision-making and quality of care.
At Amgen Hellas, we are consistently engaged in the dialogue on future health policy. Through the “Voices of Innovation” initiative of PhARMA Innovation Forum, we have the opportunity to contribute constructively, offering solutions and strengthening collaboration. Our goal is a healthcare system that serves the needs of all citizens, emphasizing prevention, quality, and equal access to innovative treatments—a system that is sustainable, resilient, and socially equitable, where innovation is not a luxury, but a strategic driver of progress and transformation.
Danny Donkers, Country Director, Amgen Greece & Cyprus
