On 2 June 2022 WHO/Europe met with the Patient Access Committee of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) to discuss issues related to access to high-cost novel therapies in the WHO European Region and how the Oslo Medicines Initiative (OMI) is fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors to overcome these challenges.
Governments in the WHO European Region have increasingly voiced concern about high costs restricting access to potentially effective novel medicines. Launched by WHO/Europe and the Government of Norway, the OMI aims to address this concern and ensure that patients across the Region can access the treatments they need when they need them.
Multisectoral collaboration
Continued dialogue with all stakeholders is critical to help build an environment of mutual trust and cooperation between the pharmaceutical industry, governments, and patients.
“Inequitable access and unaffordable medicines stop people from getting the health care they need and prevent us from meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, but, together with constructive dialogue, we can deliver the resolutions given by Member States and make health coverage universal,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
EFPIA, on behalf of the biopharmaceutical industry operating in Europe, expressed its support for and continued engagement with the neutral platform for stakeholder dialogue that WHO/Europe has provided through the OMI.
Recognizing the need for multisectoral action, EFPIA provided an update on a series of proposals it launched to reduce inequalities in patient access to medicines in Europe. These include a commitment from EFPIA’s members to file for pricing and reimbursement, an equity-based pricing framework, and a more significant push towards flexible pricing and payment models to facilitate decisions that provide swift access to life-saving and life-changing medicines. WHO/Europe then highlighted the need for consultation with Member States.
Next steps
Every year, the WHO Regional Committee for Europe meets to discuss regional public health challenges and formulate policies to improve health and well-being in the Region.
At the next session of the Regional Committee in September 2022, WHO/Europe, together with EFPIA and other stakeholders, will facilitate a discussion with Member States on the issue at hand, which will result in WHO/Europe issuing a formal statement and seeking a mandate from Member States to continue WHO/Europe’s medicines initiative.
Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Director of the Division of Country Health Policies and Systems at WHO/Europe, provided an update on the activities that will take place in the run-up to the Regional Committee, which include the launch of a series of background documents, consultations with Member States and a BMJ publication series on key policy considerations.