EFPIA, the voice of the research-based pharmaceutical industry in Europe, supports the idea to establish a “European Council for Health Research”, launched last week by the Alliance for Biomedical Research in Europe representing 16 leading European biomedical research societies (BioMed Alliance).

This call for action by the biomedical research community coincides with the publication by the European Commission of the next EU research funding framework “Horizon 2020”. 

Richard Bergström, Director General of EFPIA, said: “We agree with the BioMed Alliance that success and innovation in health research requires a long-term commitment.  I warmly welcome this initiative, which is a step towards a European “National Institute of Health”. Such a European body would allow both strategic long-term planning driven by healthcare needs and optimising healthcare delivery across Europe through high level treatment guidelines and a shared understanding on how health technology assessments (HTA) can deliver value for money”.

“EFPIA is ready to engage into a stakeholder debate proposed by the BioMed Alliance on how to structure a European Council for Health research to optimise healthcare research and delivery across Europe” – concluded Richard Bergström.

Contact
Richard Bergström, Tel: (+32) 2 626 25 55
E-mail: newsroom@efpia.org

Useful links
www.efpia.eu
www.biomedeurope.org
www.imi.europa.eu

About EFPIA:

EFPIA represents the pharmaceutical industry operating in Europe. Through its direct membership of 31 national associations and 38 leading pharmaceutical companies, EFPIA provides the voice of 2,000 companies committed to researching, developing and bringing new medicines to improve health and quality of life around the world.

EFPIA member are committed to delivering innovative medicines to address unmet needs of patients and reducing the burden of chronic diseases for Europe’s ageing population. EFPIA believes in close cooperation with its stakeholders to help create sustainable healthcare systems and to develop prompt responses to health threats in Europe.

The pharmaceutical sector directly employs some 640,000 people in Europe including 115,000 working in research and development. The industry also generates around three to four times more employment both upstream and downstream.

Europe’s research-based pharmaceutical industry generates a substantial trade surplus, estimated at about €58,800 million in 2009, and has contributed significantly to reducing the European Union’s trade deficit in high-tech products. More than a quarter of the EU’s high-tech exports are pharmaceutical products.

Media Contact:

Nicholas Elles
Communications Manager
EFPIA 
Rue du Trone, 108
1050 Brussels
TEL:  +32 (0)2 626 24 79
Email : communications@efpia.eu