Tagged with reform

Latvia Svens Henkuzens, director of the State Agency of Medicines in Latvia discusses the key role of the organization in the country and the objectives he has set to further improve the access to innovative treatments for Latvian patients. Could you introduce the State Agency of Medicines and its mandate? “We…

Canada Hydropothecary is the leading medicinal cannabis producer in Quebec, founded in 2013 by two brothers-in-law, Sebastien St-Louis and Adam Miron. Terry Lake, former Minister of Health for British Colombia, discusses his new role as Vice President Corporate Social Responsibility, the stigma surrounding the cannabis plant and how to bring innovative…

Ecuador Juan Carlos Galarza, executive director of Ecuador’s National Health Regulation, Control and Surveillance Agency (ARCSA), discusses the multiple procedural improvements that the Agency has recently implemented with the objective of increasing its international recognition, the benefits of these actions for Ecuadorians – who will have faster and safer access to…

Baltics SIFFA’s Valters Bolēvics discusses Latvia’s competitiveness in embracing medical innovations, current healthcare reforms, and the country’s enduring potential as a pharmaceutical investment destination. The Association of International Research-based Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (SIFFA) was initially founded in 1996 to act as a united voice for five multinationals that had penetrated the local…

Baltics Janis Silins of the Association of Biopharmaceutical Drug Manufacturers in Latvia discusses the organization’s purpose, collaboration efforts, and role in shaping policy reform. Could you please start by introducing the Association of Biopharmaceutical Drug Manufacturers in Latvia (Biofarmaceitisko Ražotāju Asociācijas Latvijā (BRAL)) and your role within the association? “We strive…

Serbia Between 2010 and 2012 just one of the 139 new medicines to receive market authorisations globally was approved for reimbursement in Serbia, compared with 44 in Bulgaria and 27 in Croatia; meaning a severe lack of patient access to much-needed treatments as well as an extremely challenging environment for innovative…

Lithuania Kristina Garuoliene, vice minister at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania, explains the cornerstones behind the new National Drug Policy approved in August 2017, the commitment of the Ministry to ensuring Lithuanian patients have access to the latest high-quality medicines regardless of their location or spending power.…

Brazil Paulo Henrique Fraccaro, superintendent of the Brazilian Medical and Dental Devices Manufacturers Association (ABIMO), describes the central role of the association within the Brazilian medtech industry, the phenomenal potential of Brazil’s medtech sector for companies choosing to establish a production facility in Brazil and the importance of increased efficiency and…

Lithuania Šarūnas Narbutas, president at the Lithuanian Cancer Patients’ Coalition (POLA), explains the role of patients in shaping the Lithuanian healthcare system as well as the importance of having an integral approach when discussing with healthcare stakeholders to drive progress in the country. You hold a number of roles in different…

India A nationwide renowned neonatologist and member of the High Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage, NITI Aayog’s medical expert, Dr. Vinod K. Paul introduces the work that the government institution has been carrying out to improve India’s healthcare system since its creation in 2015 and discussed how India is…

India Newly appointed commissioner of the Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) of the Indian state of Maharashtra, Dr. Pallavi Darade, shares her objectives to further consolidate the FDA’s positioning as a transparent, efficient and trusted regulatory institution by involving the industry in any consultation and make them an integral part of…

Switzerland Petra Doerr, head of sector communication & networking as well as deputy executive director of Swissmedic, the Swiss surveillance authority for medicines and medical devices, discusses changes to the Swiss regulatory system and harmonizing the organization with its global counterparts. Swissmedic has embarked upon a comprehensive overhaul of its regulations in response…