Access to pharmaceutical innovation for patients is not solely a healthcare issue; it is a strategic indicator of resilience, social cohesion and economic dynamism, reflecting the extent to which a system can respond to modern needs while ensuring sustainability and growth prospects, according to Savvas Charalambidis, Vice President of PIF and General Manager of Gilead Sciences.
In Greece, this debate has now become a central issue of public health policy. The limits of the existing financing model are evident, both in terms of system functionality and in relation to the timely and equitable access of patients to innovative treatments.
Innovation cannot be treated as a fiscal variable or a cost to be contained. On the contrary, access to innovation is proof of a healthcare system’s maturity, reflecting not only the quality of care but also a country’s strategic position within the European investment landscape. Today, the main issue lies in the structure of financing. The heavy reliance on mandatory rebates and clawbacks—which in Greece exceed 70%—combined with an investment decline of around 20% over the past five years, has created an environment that does not allow for stability or planning. The current funding model has reached its limits, with the lack of predictability acting as a deterrent to innovation and long-term investment.
The picture becomes clearer when compared with other European systems. In countries such as Belgium, reimbursement mechanisms are limited to around 4%, in France to approximately 6.6% (2023), while in the United Kingdom they stand at around 26.5%. Italy operates with a cap on pharmaceutical expenditure at 15.3% of total healthcare spending (2024), while even markets such as Romania (15–25%) are gradually introducing rationalisation measures. By contrast, Greece combines a high financial burden with low predictability, creating an environment that restricts access and discourages investment in innovative therapies and infrastructure.
The impact is already measurable. According to EFPIA’s WAIT 2024 data, the availability of new therapies in Greece is around 4% lower than the European average, while delays in patient access remain significant, directly affecting clinical outcomes. At the same time, Greece is lagging in attracting research and development investment, with a declining trend in clinical trials during the 2023–2025 period and increasing outflow of scientific talent abroad—an evolution that deprives the country of valuable human capital.
The PhARMA Innovation Forum has repeatedly highlighted the need to transition to a different pharmaceutical policy model that links spending to value and patient outcomes. A clear shift towards a value-based healthcare system is required, where value is defined not by the volume of services provided, but by actual outcomes for patients. This transition is not a matter of policy choice, but a necessary reform with a clear development footprint, as it is directly linked to the organisation and financing of the healthcare system.
The establishment of a balanced framework of institutional and societal co-responsibility is a key prerequisite for the sustainability of the system.
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