EU Pharmaceutical Forum sets out key challenges for Pharma landscape

The final report of the European Commission's High-Level Pharmaceutical Forum was presented this month, setting out principles and recommendations on three key challenges in the pharmaceutical landscape. Firstly, how to improve information on diseases and treatments, secondly, how to compare medicines and identify those that are most effective and thirdly, how to balance access and reward for innovation within limited health care budgets. The proposals were broadly welcomed by European drug and biotechnology firms (see page 11).

The Pharmaceutical Forum was co-chaired by Gunter Verheugen, Vice President of the European Commission, and Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou. This meeting marks the end of a three-year mandate. It brought together European Union member states and stakeholders, including patient organizations, health professionals, industry and insurers. The final report comprises a set of principles and recommendations to increase cooperation in three key areas.