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The Greek pharmaceutical industry is the flagship of development

The Greek pharmaceutical industry is the flagship of development

Within the 7 leading industries of the new development model of the country

With the common observation that the Greek pharmaceutical industry may be the growth engine of the Greek economy, based on the dynamics and growth prospects of the industry, closed its operations the first Conference of the Greek Pharmaceutical Industry.

As noted by all the speakers in the three themes of the conference ("Pharmaceutical Policy", "Growth and Employment" and "Research and Education"), the Greek pharmaceutical industry can emerge stronger from the crisis, if there is support from the state, as to increase the domestic market share of Greek medicine, as well as to the openness and export activity.

Mr. B. Pentafragkas, managing director of the Board of Pan-Hellenic Pharmaceutical Industry Association (PEF), in the closure of the conference emphasized that the objective was to expose the actual size of the problems facing the Greek pharmaceutical industry, as opposed to the disorientation created whenever the discussion turns to pharmaceutical expenditure. "The Greek pharmaceutical industry consists of family businesses almost in its entirety. They do not sacrifice their values for the sake of temporary gain, "he said, "We want to generate added values for policyholders, the society, and development. As pointed out Mr. Giannakopoulos, the issue is primarily political. Does the government want strong, competitive, export pharmaceuticals? The answer must be yes". If what said the government officials at the conference apply should be taken measures in this direction, he said.

The Greek pharmaceutical industry that offers over 53,000 direct and indirect jobs, ranks first in the index of industrial production and has direct and indirect effect on other sectors estimated in EUR 2.7 billion, is one of the leading industries of the new era, as characteristically said.

The criteria for the new development model for the country, should be the creation of added value , investments, internationally marketable products of high added value, -according to Emeritus Professor at Panteion University and Scientific Director of the INE GSEE, Mr. Savvas Robolis-, that are points at which the Greek pharmaceutical industry has enjoyed considerable success. According to Mr. Robolis, the 7 leading sectors of Greek economy are energy and hydrocarbons, banks, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, building materials - metals and agricultural produce.

Mr. N. Philippas, assistant professor at the University of Piraeus and scientific director and chairman of KEPE, characterized the Greek pharmaceutical a "diamond", as includes a unique human capital and has an important contribution to GDP.

He also referred to the need for pharmaceutical companies to adapt to the new environment, to become more extroverted and switch to markets like China and Africa and to enter in the new development planning of the country. Of course prerequisite to realize all these is the restoration of funding.

On his part, Assistant Professor Director Research NTUA and Director of Research of IOBE (Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research) Mr. Angelos Tsakanikas, reported at length in the contribution of the pharmaceutical industry's contribution to the Greek economy, as has been reflected in studies of the IOBE.
The industry and the pharmaceutical products have high added value, he noted, and the productive investment have large multiplier, while the pharmaceutical industry is the 7th highest Greek manufacturing sector and one of the 4 sectors showing positive growth. Moreover, employment in the sector was not affected in recent years, he said, adding that here we want mobility, meaning the executives to leave and come back rather than to leave forever, ie the so-called brain drain has begun.

The Scientific Director of the National Union Pharmaceutical Mr. Markos Ollandezos, referred to the study by Mc Kinsey, who highlighted the Greek pharmaceutical industry as an emerging star of Greek industry and economy.

He also stressed that the drug significantly enhances GDP, giving significant annual added value, while regarding the advantages of Greek pharmaceutical industry, pointed out that Greece has major production facilities and is targeted to large foreign markets. He asked finally, for the cooperation between state and industry so to lead among others to the create of a national strategy for the pharmaceutical industry.

The conference opened this morning the chairman of PEF, D. Demos, who referred to the recognition enjoyed the Greek medicines around the world. As pointed out , the Greek medicines is a quality solution for pharmaceutical expenditure in many countries. But the discussion needs to be done concerning everyday problems and hardships faced by the sector in order to contribute to the same extent in the Greek economy and the Greek pharmaceutical to become the engine of development.

On his part, Vice President of PEF Theodore Trifon, stressed that there is no protectionism in the Greek pharmaceutical industry since the price reductions especially in the Greek new generic drugs are crippling. Moreover, denounced the fact of the delay of the marketing authorizations of medicinal products, leading Greek companies to lack an equal access to the market. He also said that the measure of the active substance has failed, while the Greek pharmaceutical industry does not support the reckless prescribing.

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The "present" at the conference gave the founder of VIANEX and 'patriarch' of the Greek pharmaceutical Pavlos Giannakopoulos accompanied by his son Dimitris, who for some years has taken the company's management.

"The message of today's first Conference of the Greek Pharmaceutical Industry, could only be purely political" ! With these words Mr. Dimitris Giannakopoulos, Vice Chairman and Deputy CEO of VIANEX, the Greek pharmaceutical industry leader, raised the real basis of the debate that must be opened for the drug industry, the pharmaceutical care and health of the Greek people in general, under the suffocating memorandum policies which are implemented.
With a fiery speech from the rostrum of the 1st Conference of the Greek Pharmaceutical Industry, Mr. Giannakopoulos highlighted as the main responsible for the predatory policy pursued in recent years in the field of public health and the drug, the former Minister of Health Mr Andreas Loverdos, which he started with the active substance and the current Minister Adonis Georgiadis, who "finishes off what is left, by reducing the pharmaceutical spending below 2 billion".

The applicable policy, "which was intended the impoverishment of the Greek pharmaceutical industry, of the Greek medicine in total and the invasion of foreign interests from "the window" is implemented with the connivance of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras", as pointed out by Mr. Giannakopoulos, "who "under blackmail" by the troika, monitor the end credits of the domestic pharmaceutical industry and of the thousands of workers in the industry."

The crucial question that arises in these circumstances is what the Greek pharmaceutical industry does: "Do we remain passive spectators of a multi-projected film, pending the time when the Greeks will die because they will not have access to proper medicine, since we will have already close our factories?
Or is there among us someone who honestly believes that if the pharmaceutical expenditure stays under 2 billion Euros the Greek people and the Greek pharmaceutical industry will manage to survive?", he said.

Especially in view of the Euro-elections of May 25, Mr. Giannakopoulos invited the industry to tell its own "NO" and to reciprocate "the generous support towards the Greek pharmaceutical industry".

"It's time for us to support, organized and collectively, those who will represent us in Europe with the sole interest of Greece and the Greeks, claiming the health which we deserve, the pharmaceutical industry which we deserve, the entrepreneurship that will make our country competitive around the world again", concluded Mr. Giannakopoulos.

On his part, the president of SFEE, Mr. Frouzis, stressed that the Greek pharmaceutical industry must be supported more and raised the problem of shortage of drugs in hospitals .

Mr. K. Theodossiadis , president of the Pan-Hellenic Pharmaceutical Association, in his speech called "stop the speculation that medicines are the generative cause of all evils in the country". He also said "if we want health we must say it and not to put other objectives behind the words".

On behalf of SYRIZA, the conference welcomed by the MEP Panayiotis Kouroumplis who stressed the need to address the humanitarian crisis that threatens the cohesion of the place, as a consequence of policies. Mr. Kouroumplis asked to support the productive reconstruction of the country, which, he said, it passes through the manufacture of a medicament as well.

In step then climbed the Minister of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, who stressed that the government's intention is to support the Greek pharmaceutical industry. However, he noted that a pharmaceutical industry which is dependant to the State, -referring to Mr. Kouroumplis-, is meaningless if it cannot withstand against the competition and to brings revenue.

Mr. Georgiadis said that pharmaceutical expenditure is not to spin out more than 2 billion because that will mean new horizontal measures. Finally, he heralded drastic measures for the immediate future in order to increase the penetration of generics under memorandum target of 60%. These measures, he said, would not have a central axis values.