{"id":1427,"date":"2025-12-09T14:35:52","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T12:35:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pifgreece.gr\/?p=1427"},"modified":"2025-12-11T17:05:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T15:05:29","slug":"greece-at-a-critical-turning-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pifgreece.gr\/en\/news\/greece-at-a-critical-turning-point\/","title":{"rendered":"Greece at a critical turning point"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Greece at a critical turning point<\/strong><\/p>\n

Will Greece keep up with pharmaceutical innovation or be left behind?<\/p>\n

The event of Pharma Innovation Forum Greece (PIF)<\/strong>,<\/a> held on Wednesday, November 26, highlighted a reality that concerns us all: pharmaceutical innovation is advancing faster than ever<\/strong>. The question is whether Greece can -and wants to- keep up.<\/p>\n

PIF President<\/strong>, Ms. <\/strong>Labrina Barmpetaki<\/strong><\/a>, emphasized: \u201cInnovation is not a promise for the future. It is here, fundamentally advancing medical practice, transforming healthcare, and changing lives. The issue is not whether we have the knowledge – we do. The issue is whether we have a system that allows patients to access the right treatment at the right time.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Patient associations and the medical community: the challenge of access to innovative treatments:<\/u>
\n<\/strong>In the first session, titled \u201cEvidence-Based Outcomes, Real Needs: The challenge of Access to Innovative Treatments<\/em>\u201d, moderated by PIF\u2019s General Manager, <\/strong>Mr. Ioannis Kotsiopoulos<\/strong><\/a>, participants included Mr. Konstantinos N. Syrigos<\/strong> Professor of Medicine & Medical Oncology,\u00a0Mr. Charalampos Vlachopoulos, Professor of Cardiology, Mr. Dimitris Kontopidis, President of the European Lung Foundation and President of the Anasa Patient Association<\/strong>, as well as Ms. Foteini Skondra, President of the BoD, Parkinson Union Greece.<\/strong> Evidence was presented demonstrating improvements in patient survival and quality of life in serious chronic diseases over the past decades thanks to innovative treatments.<\/p>\n

From the perspective of the medical community<\/strong>, Mr. Vlachopoulos and Mr. Syrigos made it clear: \u201cThe country has fallen behind both in patient access times to new treatments and in its attractiveness as a destination for conducting clinical trials<\/em><\/strong>. This delay directly affects scientific progress and the options that ultimately reach patients.
\n<\/em>
\nRegarding patients<\/strong>, Mr. Kontopidis and Ms. Skondra clearly conveyed: \u201cOnly a few can truly benefit from therapeutic progress today.\u201d As was pointed out, \u201cHorizontal measures and <\/em>clawback<\/em><\/a> mechanisms are not merely accounting exercises – they are matters of life and have real consequences. For a sustainable system to develop for the benefit of patients, a stable framework, prioritization, and substantive reforms are required, because investing in medicine is investing in health, and progress depends on society\u2019s ability to embrace the new, not fear it.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Myths, truths, and the next chapter of pharmaceutical innovation in Greece:
\n<\/u><\/strong>The second session<\/strong>, titled \u201cPharmaceutical Innovation in Greece: Myths, Truths, and the Next Chapter<\/em>,\u201d was moderated by Mr. Ioannis Kotsiopoulos, PIF General Manager<\/strong>, and featured the participation of PIF President<\/strong> Ms. Labrina Barmpetaki<\/strong>, PIF Vice President Mr. <\/strong>Savas Charalampidis<\/strong><\/a>, and PIF General Secretary Ms. <\/strong>Elizabeth Prodromou<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The PIF board members<\/strong> addressed the main myths and truths surrounding pharmaceutical innovation. For instance:<\/p>\n

Truth #1: Clawback affects patients and their access to innovative treatments.<\/strong>
\nOnly 25% of new treatments approved by the EMA between 2020 and 2023 are fully available in Greece today.<\/p>\n

Truth #2: The situation in the pharmaceutical market is worsening.
\n<\/strong>Clawback reaches 75.5% in hospitals and 63% in EOPYY – levels unprecedented in Europe.<\/p>\n

Truth #3: Public pharmaceutical expenditure has remained stagnant for years and below the European average.
\n<\/strong>Greece is at -12% and -46% compared to Southern and Western Europe, respectively.<\/p>\n

Additional examples spoke for themselves<\/strong>: For simple, low-cost treatments, the state covers 100% of the cost throughout the year. In contrast, for serious chronic diseases<\/strong>, coverage drops to just 136 days for a biological psoriasis therapy and only 92 days<\/strong> for oncology immunotherapy. Clinical research<\/strong> is also showing a significant decline: in 2024, the number of studies approved in Greece fell to 118<\/strong> – a decrease of over 40% compared to 2023 and the lowest level since 2017. Meanwhile, Europe invests more than \u20ac47 billion annually in Research and Development, while Greece attracts only \u20ac100 million<\/strong>. Aligning with the European average could increase annual investments in Greece to over \u20ac500 million, potentially approaching \u20ac700 million.<\/p>\n

PIF\u2019s Proposals: A Long-Term Solution to the Deadlock<\/u>
\n<\/strong>
\nPIF presented three key proposals to help the country break free from the deadlock. A mid-term plan<\/strong> under a definitive agreement to decrease clawback and secure extra funding. Correcting market distortions<\/strong> through a single pharmaceutical budget and state assumption of protective measure costs. Streamlining access procedures<\/strong> and setting up a stable framework for clinical research and value-based assessment.<\/p>\n

As a final note, PIF President Ms. Labrina Barmpetaki<\/strong> noted: \u201cThe issue is not managing a budget, but creating a system that can provide timely and equitable access to treatments that are already saving lives. Pharmaceutical innovation cannot wait.<\/strong> Greece has choices – the question is whether it will seize them. And this, as discussed at the event, is a challenge we must confront and overcome<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Greece at a critical turning point Will Greece keep up with pharmaceutical innovation or be left behind? The event of Pharma Innovation Forum Greece (PIF), held on Wednesday, November 26, highlighted a reality that concerns us all: pharmaceutical innovation is advancing faster than ever. The question is whether Greece can -and wants to- keep…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1429,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[28,25],"class_list":["post-1427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-article-en","tag-featured-en","category-24","description-off"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGreece at a critical turning point | PIF Greece<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Greece faces a pivotal moment as pharmaceutical innovation accelerates globally, the country risks falling behind. 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