Cholargos, 6/2/2026
PRESS RELEASE
EOF Workshop "The Role of EOF in Shaping Pharmaceutical Policy - the Next Steps"
The conference on "The Role of EOF in the Formation of Pharmaceutical Policy - the Next Steps", organized by the National Medicines Organization on Wednesday, 4.2.2026 at the Civil Protection Amphitheater in Marousi, was completed with great success and great participation from representatives of health institutions, collective bodies and representatives of the academic community.
The focus of the discussion was on developments in the regulatory environment for medicines & medical devices in the European Union and the key role that EOF is called upon to play in the design and implementation of pharmaceutical policy in the new landscape that is taking shape in Europe, in the context of global developments that are increasingly affecting the development and availability of medicines & health products in general.
The event was welcomed by the Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, stating, among other things, that the EOF is an extremely critical organization, with which there is a very fruitful and productive cooperation (the greeting of the Minister of Health). here).
The President of EOF, Sp. Sapounas, in his brief greeting, referred to the extroverted path that the organization is taking and the important steps that are being taken in this direction, emphasizing at the same time that "The driving force of the organization is its executive potential - we rely on them to enable EOF to fulfill its role as a pillar of trust & innovation in Public Health."
The dynamic European environment was described by Maria Jesus Lamas Diaz, Chair of the European Heads of Medicines Agency (HMA) network and President of the Spanish Medicines Agency, as the keynote speaker of the conference. The aim is to establish Europe as a model regulator worldwide, a hub for biomedical innovation and a guarantor of equal access through optimal legislation, coordination and use of technology.
On behalf of the Ministry of Health, the head of Pharmaceutical Department Dr. St. Evangelatos stressed the critical role of EOF as it is at the crossroads of science, regulation, the economy, and geopolitical stability. He referred to the valuable cooperation between the Ministry of Health and EOF as a prerequisite for ensuring citizens' access to safe, quality and effective medicines.
This was followed by presentations of the main fields of action of the Hellenic Public Health Organization (EOF) by the heads of the respective Directorates, which highlighted the cooperation and collaboration of the Hellenic Public Health Organization with its European counterparts and its effectiveness in protecting public health through
- quality control, as the pre-approval assessment of the quality of pharmaceutical products in combination with the post-approval laboratory tests carried out by the accredited laboratories of the Hellenic Pharmaceutical Authority to verify compliance with the official physicochemical and microbiological quality specifications, constitute a necessary condition for achieving therapeutic efficacy and safety (V. Violakis, EOF Laboratories Directorate)
- of active participation in the new clinical trial evaluation procedures, ensuring on the one hand timely access of patients to innovative medicines without burdening the system and on the other hand the scientific progress and economic development of our country (S. Tarazis, Directorate of Pharmaceutical Studies & Research, Hellenic Medical Organization)
- ensuring the effectiveness and safety of medicines, following European legislation and the guidelines governing their evaluation and implemented within the framework of the Central/Decentralized-Mutual and National procedure (M. Orfanou, EOF Product Evaluation Department)
- ensuring patients' access to quality and safe medicines through national & European coordination and the exercise of regulatory interventions in the pharmaceutical market (D. Dimas, Production & Circulation Control Directorate, EOF)
This was followed by speeches from stakeholders, who warmly welcomed the EOF initiative and indicated their support for any future initiative of extroversion, discussion and communication. Common ground was the highlighting of the organization's pivotal role, the effectiveness in exercising its responsibilities and the need to invest in human resources in order to respond to current and upcoming challenges.
On her behalf Greek Patients' Association President M. Tsekouras referred to the necessity of cooperation with the Hellenic Medicines Authority to combat misinformation and utilize communication networks in order to inform patients about clinical studies, pharmacovigilance and the proper use of medicines.
The president of Association of Clinical Trial Companies of Greece – HACRO Evangelist Koraki presented the multiple benefits of clinical trials for patients and the country, emphasized the central role of EOF in protecting patients' rights and safety, in the reliability of data and in the attractiveness of Greece as a location for conducting clinical trials. Furthermore, he highlighted the necessity of strengthening EOF with specialized human resources in order to respond to the challenges with quality, speed and reliability.
The president Panhellenic Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry – PEF Theodoros Tryfon referred to the many challenges & opportunities, for the exploitation of which the staffing of the organization & targeted interaction are necessary. He particularly referred to the need to create structures within EOF to assume the role of reference country (RMS) and provide scientific advice for products of the Greek pharmaceutical industry, while emphasizing the important problem of understaffing and the need to resolve it within 2026, as the conditions that are formed subsequently are not conducive to a solution.
The general manager of Association of Pharmaceutical Enterprises of Greece – SFEE M. Chimonas referred, among other things, to the benefits that the country - and especially patients - could derive from Greece's development into a center for conducting clinical trials and to the incentives that need to be given in order to achieve this.
The president of Pharmaceuticals Innovation Forum PIF L. Barbetakis referred to the triptych of cooperation, modernization & interconnection with institutions & Europe, as a prerequisite for 2026 to be a milestone year for EOF. The current challenge lies in the transition from approval to actual access without undue delays, while he stated that EOF can help in understanding the unmet therapeutic need, within an institutionalized framework.
The general secretary of Association of Medical & Biotechnological Products Businesses – SEIV K. Mariakis referred to the start of the requirement for clinical trials for Medical Devices through the harmonized European framework and described the specificities that significantly differentiate these products from medicines.
His chairman Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association-PFS A. Valtas referred to the role of the community pharmacy, the distinct roles and the necessary cooperation between EOF & PFS, while proposing the institutionalization of the participation of pharmacies in Clinical Studies
A discussion followed under the coordination of the President of the Hellenic Pharmaceutical Organization (EOF), Sp. Sapounas, regarding the interconnection and the high degree of cooperation between the bodies involved in patients' access to new, reimbursed medicines, with the participation of the President of EOPYY, Th. Karpodini, the President of the Drug Price Negotiation Committee, Dr. V. Gogozotou, and the President of the Human Medicines Evaluation & Reimbursement Committee, F. Bakopoulou.
Subsequently, the Secretary General of Strategic Planning of the Ministry of Health, A. Angelis, referred to the steps that have been taken to manage problems throughout the life cycle of the drug, emphasizing the enhancement of transparency, with the establishment of a coordination committee to address drug shortages and the creation of a platform for full monitoring of circulation throughout the supply chain. In addition, he referred to the repricing of old drugs in order for them to remain on the market. In addition, he referred to various ways of supporting the evaluation and reimbursement processes, including the DSI and the Innovation Fund.
In conclusion, the Secretary General announced for the first time from the podium of the conference the creation of a digital platform aimed at the communication and coordination of all national Committees for Medicines, Vaccines & Medical Devices, through which there will be full tracking, in real time, of all compensation requests, from the submission to the completion of the evaluation of each request. The project will be funded by the Ministry of Health, is in the tender design stage, and the goal is to be implemented within 2027.
Finally, the president of EOF Sp. Sapounas closed the proceedings of the conference by thanking everyone for their participation and renewing the appointment for the next EOF events.
The event concluded in a festive mood, as it was followed by the cutting of the EOF New Year's cake with the wishes of Management and employees for a creative year full of success.
All presentations from the conference will soon be available on the EOF website.
INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTORATE
Email: relation@eof.gr
