Daniel Paksy, Managing Director, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Greece & Romania
In recent years, the word ‘innovation’ has become firmly embedded in almost every aspect of our daily lives. We hear it from scientists and business leaders across sectors, and it is often the standard answer when discussing progress and development. In pharmaceutical innovation, however, the word takes on a deeper meaning: it acquires the value of life itself. This is because it reflects the mission our industry serves for patients and society: discovering and delivering innovative therapies that save lives, relieve human suffering, and offer hope to patients and their families.
But what happens when innovation is hindered? What do we say to a Greek patient facing a serious illness while waiting for access to treatment? Why does only one out of five innovative medicines ultimately reach patients in Greece?
Greece continues to lag behind other European markets in the speed of access and reimbursement of innovative therapies. Reversing this situation requires faster evaluation and reimbursement procedures, as well as a predictable and sustainable framework for financing innovation, allowing new therapies to be integrated into clinical practice in a timely and equitable manner.
More broadly, there is a clear need for a coordinated national strategy for health and pharmaceutical policy. Such a strategy should aim to transform the healthcare system into one that is more resilient, fair, and competitive, capable of responding effectively to the needs of patients today and in the future.
Within this context, initiatives such as “Voices of Innovation” by the PhARMA Innovation Forum provide an important platform to highlight the value of pharmaceutical innovation and to foster constructive dialogue around the future of healthcare in Greece. Through this collective effort, the innovative pharmaceutical industry aims to contribute to a shared vision: one that places patients at the center, supports sustainable healthcare systems, and recognizes innovation as a strategic investment for society. Strengthening collaboration between the state, the scientific community, and the life sciences sector will be essential to ensure that innovation translates into tangible benefits for patients and for the healthcare system.
At Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, and as a founding member of the PhARMA Innovation Forum, we collaborate with the government, the scientific community, and patient associations to support structural reforms and enhance patient access to innovative therapies that improve quality of life and life expectancy. We believe that every euro invested in healthcare generates multiple returns for the country’s social and economic well-being.
Our focus is on areas of high unmet medical need, such as oncology and immunology. Johnson & Johnson ranks second globally in Research & Development investment, with more than $17 billion invested in 2024 and 27 new therapeutic indications approved. Our ambition is to deliver more than 10 new therapies by 2030 through a research portfolio of over 100 medicines and indications. In 2025, Johnson & Johnson was included in Fortune’s list of “America’s Most Innovative Companies”, recognizing our innovation in products, operations, and corporate culture.
Behind every therapy there is a patient waiting, and time is precious. Pharmaceutical innovation must therefore receive the importance it truly deserves, not as a cost, but as a life-saving good and a strategic investment that strengthens healthcare systems and helps societies thrive.
