Enlargement of the European Union - a challenge for pharmaceutical industry

Bratislava, April 30, 2003 – Slovak Association of Research Based Pharmaceutical Companies (SAFS) has since its establishment in 1997 actively co-operated with European Federation of Pharmaceutical Companies (EFPIA) registered in Brussels. Representatives of the Priority Action Team of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Companies will be hosted on 30th April by SAFS. On the agenda of the negotiations there is the challenge for the pharmaceutical industry brought by enlargement of the European Union.

Slovak Association of Research Based Pharmaceutical Companies has since its establishment in 1997 actively co-operated with European Federation of Pharmaceutical Companies registered in Brussels. This co-operation is active especially since 1998 when Slovak Republic has renewed its great effort for achievement a full membership in European Union. SAFS is still not yet a member of EFPIA but it is highly interested in obtaining the membership in this federation.

The representatives of the working group („Priority Action Team“) of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Companies pay attention to the latest issues of the pharmaceutical industry. On 30th April they, together with the representatives of SAFS, wil deal with issues that will come up with the integration of pharmaceutical industry in Europe.

Necessity of professional communication of pharmaceutical industry with state regulatories will also belong among the topics of negotiations between the representatives of SAFS and EFPIA.
„Our effort is to lead a constructive dialogue about the legislative frame, drug policy in the transformation period of a healthcare system with Ministry of Healthcare as well as with health insurance companies and the rest of the partners. We believe, that we will succeed to create such legislative system which will help in reformning healthcare system without weakening the level of treatment and accessibility of healthcare,“ said PharmDr. Monika Horníková, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SAFS. Regulation process is the key issue for this sector in the enlargement process – EFPIA aims its activities at keeping the regulatory measurements in drug politics related to general health and healthcare standards.