Chair(s)
TBC
Introduction:
This plenary will explore the global challenge of balancing medicine affordability and availability, including reimbursement systems, pricing policies and equitable access across different health systems. It will highlight the importance of sustainable approaches to ensuring access to essential medicines, aligned with universal health coverage, primary health care and resilient health systems.
The session will also emphasise the role of pharmacy in supporting efficient, patient-centred and cost-effective care, while addressing disparities in access and strengthening system sustainability in the face of growing healthcare demands.
Programme:
| 09:00 – 09:10 | Opening remarks by the co-chairs |
| 09:10 – 09:30 | Patient-centred access and integrated care: OECD Paris insights and implications for pharmacy services |
| Mr Frederico Guanais, Deputy Head, Health Division, OECD | |
| 09:30 – 09:50 | Improving access to medicines for rare diseases: Policy perspectives from Canada |
| Stéphanie Plouffe, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs and Outreach Branch, Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, Government of Canada, Canada | |
| 09:50 – 10:25 | Panel discussion and Q&A |
| 10:25 – 10:30 | Closing remarks by the co-chairs |
Learning objectives:
1. Describe key global challenges related to medicine affordability, availability, reimbursement and equitable access.
2. Discuss policy approaches that can support sustainable medicine pricing and access within different health systems.
3. Explain how pharmacy can contribute to efficient, patient-centred and cost-effective care.
4. Identify innovative models and pharmacy-led approaches that can improve access to medicines and care, particularly for low- and middle-income countries.
Take home messages:
Sustainable and equitable access to medicines requires policies that balance affordability, availability, innovation and system sustainability, while recognising pharmacy’s contribution to efficient, patient-centred and cost-effective care.
FIP Development Goals:
To learn more about these FIP Development Goals, click on the links below.
FIP Development Goal 13: Policy Development
FIP Development Goal 18: Access to Medicines, Devices & Services
FIP Development Goal 21: Sustainability in Pharmacy
