Supervisors info:
Γαρυφαλλιά Πουλάκου, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Κυριάκος Σουλιώτης, Καθηγητής, Σχολή Κοινωνικών και Πολιτικών Επιστημών, Πανεπιστημίου Πελοποννήσου
Χαρίκλεια Κανή, Φαρμακοποίος, Προϊσταμένη του τμήματος Σχεδιασμού και Παρακολούθησης Χορήγησης
Φαρμάκων, Εοπυυ
Summary:
Review: The science development, has brought to the forefront new innovative
therapies for the treatment of metastatic Lung Cancer (MS) such as monoclonal
antibodies pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, durvalumab and nivolumab.
However, a long delay was observed in the access of new drugs to the Greek
market. At the same time, performing budget impact analysis of the new
treatments is an urgent need for healthcare systems due to the high cost of new
medicines.
Subject of research: Α literature review and interviews with executives
working in healthcare system and pharmaceutical stakeholders such as
university professors, pharmaceutical company executives, patient advocates
and political researchers were conducted. The purpose was to evaluate and
present the obstacles to access for the innovative medicinal products to the
Greek pharmaceutical market. This thesis also highlights the positive steps that
have been taken to date to modernize our health system. Finally, a budget
impact analysis of the first and the second line treatment immunotherapies for
metastatic lung cancer was performed.
Methodology: Information was collected via literature review and interviews.
The study used publicly available resources, such as papers, bibliography,
publications, relevant legislation, conferences, grey literature, Ministry of health
open data (positive list of medicines, pricing list, laws), EMA data and statistical
data from retrospectives researches in Greek hospitals, internet search engines
such as Google, electronic article databases such as Medline and Embase,
Pubmed,Mendeley and the web sites of relevant organizations such as the WHO (World Health Organization) and the OECD, the European Commission
and ISPOR, European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), Globocan,
National Organization for Healthcare Services Provision (EOPYY), National
organization of Medicines (EOF) , Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical
Companies (SFEE), Institute of Pharmaceutical Research & Technology
(IFET), European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
(EFPIA), while Face-to-Face interviewing with health experts were also
conducted with Market access Directors, Health policy Leaders, Academics,
Directors of patient organizations . The budget impact analysis (Bias) was
presented according to the NICE framework template.
Results: The studies of the budget impact analysis for the monoclonal
antibodies showed that the amounts of their expenditure affect the Greek
healthcare budget and there are relative financial differences for each
treatment. It was also pointed out the necessary use of budget impact analysis
methods for shaping health policy in Greece.
Discussion/conclusions: The current health care system in Greece needs
structural changes. Charts and tables were presented ('' Chart V Duration to
positioning in pricing list '' and '' Chart IV Difference in months to positioning in
positive list '') which present the delayed access to a new treatment for lung
cancer in the Greek market. Finally, the proposals in order to optimize the
access process of innovative drugs in Greek market emerged from the thorough
bibliographic research and the series of interviews.
Keywords:
Immunotherapy, MLC, Budget impact, Market access in Greece, Barriers, Innovative therapies
