Sustaining Access to Medicines in Europe:
The coming crisis
2 November 2001
26 September 2001
Programme
Chair: Dr. Joel Lexchin, member of the HAI Europe Association Board
Morning session
Welcome by HAI Europe
Speaker: Lisa Hayes, seminar co-organiser
People’s health needs versus companies’ marketing rights
Speaker: Andreas Wulf, Medico International, Germany
Promoting products or health?
A critical look at the implications of the EU's decision to ease advertising
rules for prescription drugs within the region. Plus, a summary of what direct-to-consumer
advertising (DTCA) has done to drug prices and health budgets in other countries.
Speaker: Charles Medawar, Director, Social Audit, UK
Fast tracking of medicines: improving access while endangering
public health?
Speaker: John Abraham, Professor of Sociology, University of Sussex, UK
Rising health care expenditures on the European drug
market: pseudo-innovations, useless studies, manipulated drug information and
other strategies of the pharmaceutical industry
Speaker: Peter Schoenhoefer, co-editor, Arznei-telegramm, (independent German
drug bulletin)
Lunch
Afternoon session
Impact of EU policies for Eastern and Central Europe and other regions
Speaker: Graham Dukes
The pressures facing national governments: Balancing
the need to contain costs with stakeholders‘ demands: a perspective from Germany
Speaker: Hermann Schulte-Sasse
Break
Panel
Stakeholders’ priorities in the access debate: working together towards a solution?
The role of generics: how much can they help?
Speaker: Greg Perry, Director, European Generics Medicines Association, Belgium
Paying the bill: the dilemmas facing Europe's non-profit
health insurers
Speaker: Willy Palm, Director, Association Internationale de la Mutualité,
Belgium (invited)
Consumers‘ priorities and concerns: how to ensure consumers’
right to the best possible health in light of rational treatment and limited
budgets
Speaker: Clara MacKay, Principal Policy Adviser, Consumers’ Association,
UK
Closing by Chair
Refreshments
Additional information about the seminar
Representatives of health and development NGOs, public health advocates, government officials, academics and selected others interested in the access issue are invited to attend this one-day seminar to be held on Friday, 2 November, 2001 in Steinbach, Germany (near Frankfurt).
Seminar participants will be asked to pay a Euro 150 participation fee to the HAI Europe office by the registration deadline of 22 October 2001. (Note: those registering after this date will be charged Euro 200.) A reduced registration fee of Euro 75 is available for those representing public health interest NGOs. Students with accompanying identification can register for Euro 40.
The seminar fee will cover refreshments and lunch during the day, the background reader prepared for all seminar participants and the seminar’s proceedings which will be published after the meeting.
Please note: Seating is limited for this event.
To register, contact the HAI Europe office:
Health Action International Europe
Jacob van Lennepkade 334-T
1053 NJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
tel: (+31-20) 683 3684
fax: (+31-20) 685 5002
e-mail: info@haiweb.org