On the Threshold of a New National Pharmaceutical Policy

According to the Minister of Health we are moving forward to the post-crisis era with a New National Pharmaceutical Policy that will ensure patients' access to affordable and reliable medicines as well as to pharmaceutical innovation. The broader vision incudes the universal and equal coverage of the health needs of the population from a patient centric, transparent, effective and financially viable public health system that will provide reliable care without unbearable financial burden on citizens.

The major question that we will attempt to approach in a Special Roundtable Discussion composed by Health Authorities, Payers, Industry, Patients, Health Economists is whether there is room for sustainable financing and effecient operation of the Health System in an environment under austerity and fiscal consolidation?

Beyond any doubt, under such a strict condition of compulsory austerity the State we must keep working and forward the necessary structural reforms, the strengthening of the capacity of the NHS and the gradual convergence of public health expenditure as a percentage of GDP with European averages. High on the Agenda is also the systematic promotion of the transnational cooperation for joint negotiations of affordable prices for high-cost medicines (the recently signed Valleta Declaration is the first step), the need for a consistent and fairer volume rebate, a better and more fair distribution of the public pharmaceutical expenditure’s over-spending, the modification of the Price List architecture to remove current distortions and of course a new way of calculating the insurance price to reduce the patient's financial burden.

In Greece, we are faced with a disproportional analogy of health needs and resources. This can only be addressed through a serious political plan that includes the necessary progressive reforms in the field of health, the more efficient organization and management of public structures, the upgrading of e-Government, scientific control of demand for medicines, tests and services and the increase of the capacity of the NHS and the quality of its services.

Conference's Objective

The 2017 Pricing & Reimbursement Conference aims to bring together world class international speakers, leading political and healthcare stakeholders, distinguished academics, high level representatives from WHO, EMA, AIFD and other international organizations to encourage discussions and negotiations into how to improve the drug pricing system and consequential market access strategies while achieving the respective reimbursement and affordability objectives. At the same time, it will address the latest European and international developments, provide detailed analysis of the pricing market and enable the participants to gain better understanding on outcomes based reimbursement.

Join us this autumn for a progressive outlook into the future of pharmaceutical pricing & reimbursement (P&R) in Greece; and discuss what can be done by all stakeholders for the industry to achieve efficient reimbursement and for patients to gain access to affordable medication.

Key Issues to be discussed

Policy Developments on Medicine Pricing Structures: Challenges & Opportunities
New Reimbursement Framework in Relation to the Healthcare System’s Sustainability
Roundtable: Is There Room for Sustainable Financing and Efficient Operation of the Health System in An Environment under Austerity and Fiscal Consolidation?
Patient Affordability: Bridge the Gap between Access and the Patient's Pocket

Target group

♦ Government representatives ♦ Academics ♦ Pharmaceutical industry executives ♦ Market access professionals ♦ Health economists ♦ Researchers ♦ Physicians ♦ Patients ♦

Confirmed Speakers

International Speakers

Helder Mota-Filipe, Associate Professor of Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Portugal
Yannis Natsis, Policy Manager for Universal Access and Affordable Medicines, European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), Brussels
Dennis Ostwald, CEO WifOR
Bruno Santoni, Executive Director, Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) Europe
Entela Xoxi, PharmD, PhD, MSci, Independent Consultant, Senior Regulatory & Health Policy Advisor, Former AIFA’ Registries Co-Ordinator

Speakers & Moderators

George Giannopoulos

Katerina Antoniou, President of Greek Organization for Medicines (EOF)
Sotirios Bersimis, President of the National Organization for the Provision of Healthcare Services (EOPYY)
Magda Chatzikou, PhD, Managing Partner, PharmEcons Easy Access Ltd
Leonidas Fotiadis, Treasurer of Panhellenic Association of Patients with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis EPIDERMIA . President of Panhellenic Association of Patients with Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases AKESO - Board Member of Panhellenic Federation Reumazein
Panagiotis Georgakopoulos, Vice President, National Organization for the Provision of Healthcare Services (EOPYY)
Ilias Giannoglou, B΄ Vice President, National Organisation for Medicines (EOF)
Ioannis Gkouvitsos, Consultant, IQVIA TM
Nikos Kostaras, General Manager, IQVIA TM
Dimitrios Kouvelas, Professor and Head of the Dept. of Clinical Pharmacology School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Despoina Makridaki, A’ Vice President National Organization of Medicines (EOF), President of the Pan-Hellenic Association of Hospital Pharmacists (PEFNI)
Dimitris Pantazis, CEO, Institute of Pharmaceutical Research & Technology (IFET)
Makis Papataxiarchis, Managing Director, Janssen Greece, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, President, PhRMA Innovation Forum & Chairman, AMCHAM Pharma Committee
Vasileios Pentafragas, Executive Director, Panhellenic Union of Pharmaceutical Industry (PEF)
Ioannis Podimatas, Special Advisor to the Secretary General, Ministry of Health
Nikos Polyzos, Professor, Department of Social Administration and Political Science, Democritus University of Thrace
Theofanis Rigatos, Head of Strategic Planning, General Directorate for the Organization and Planning of Health Services Purchasing, National Organization for Health Services (EOPYY)
Zoi Stefanidou, Head International Market Access, Elpen Pharmaceutical, Vice-President, Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Management
Anastasios Tagaris, President and CEO, HDIKA
Eleftherios Thiraios, General Secretary, Athens Medical Society
George Tsiakalakis, Advocacy and Communications Officer, ‘Positive Voice’ Hellenic Association of HIV/AIDS
Athanassios Vozikis, Assistant Professor, Director of the Laboratory of Health Economics and Management, Economics Dept., School of Economics, Business and International Studies, University of Piraeus