The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical link between patient access to medicine and a robust medicines manufacturing sector. As health systems begin to recover from the pandemic, a new crisis threatens stability and secure supply of medicines in Europe. This heightens the urgency to coordinate EU action on essential medicines and access to care, translating political statements into real policy reform.
Beginning her mandate as President of Medicines for Europe, Elisabeth Stampa (Medichem) outlined key policy priorities, requiring urgent EU action. These are:
Elisabeth’s Presidency marks the conclusion of the mandate of Rebecca Guntern (Sandoz), who has led the association ad interim over the past 6 months. Rebecca will continue her active engagement with Medicines for Europe in her role as association Vice President. She said: “It has been an honour to lead Medicines for Europe for this interim period. The off-patent industry continues to provide access to as many patients as possible, even under the most challenging circumstances. I wish Elisabeth all the best as she takes up the leadership challenge.”
Commenting on the launch of her mandate, Elisabeth said “seven out of every ten medicines dispensed in Europe are off-patent. Our industry has contributed significantly during the pandemic and now a major war begins on our borders. The contribution of the off-patent sector to the European healthcare system is key. Medicines for Europe’s interests are fully aligned with the EU’s pharmaceutical and industrial objectives. The time has come to translate objectives into reality. My priority as President will be to work with the EU to improve access to medicines and to restore the manufacturing competitiveness of Europe.
I count on our members, stakeholders and partners to respond to the challenges that lie ahead, ensuring we do everything in our power to build better access and health for every person in Europe.”
With more than twenty years in the industry, Elisabeth is currently CEO of Medichem SA and serves on its Board. Since 2016, together with the Executive team, she has transformed the company from a pure API player into a vertically integrated B2B company. She has driven both innovation and sustainability initiatives within Medichem SA.
Prior to becoming CEO, Elisabeth was Executive Chair of the Corporate family business (Medichem SA and the former Combino Pharm SL), having started her career in Marketing at Laboratorios Esteve. She holds a BSc in Pharmacy (UB, Spain) and an MBA (ESADE Business School, Barcelona, Spain). She also serves on the Board of Trustees at the IQS in Barcelona.
Elisabeth has been an active member of international associations throughout her professional career and advocates for legislative changes that improve patient accessibility and strengthen the European industry at a global level. She represented EU API manufacturers on behalf of EFCG in the GDUFA II negotiations with FDA.
Medicines for Europe represents the generic, biosimilar and value-added medicines industries across Europe. Its vision is to provide sustainable access to high quality medicines, based on 5 important pillars: patients, quality, value, sustainability and partnership. Its members directly employ 190,000 people at over 400 manufacturing and 126 R&D sites in Europe and invest up to 17% of their turnover in R&D investment. Medicines for Europe member companies across Europe are both increasing access to medicines and driving improved health outcomes. They play a key role in creating sustainable European healthcare systems by continuing to provide high quality, effective generic medicines, whilst also innovating to create new biosimilar medicines and bringing to market value added medicines, which deliver better health outcomes, greater efficiency and/or improved safety in the hospital setting for patients. For more information, please follow us at www.medicinesforeurope.com and on Twitter @medicinesforEU.