EFPIA welcomes the attention to good governance in the health sector. As countries implement universal health care, as underpinned by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, it is critically important that all stakeholders continue to evolve regulatory system with integrity and transparency.

The report is right to highlight the role of the industry in driving change but completely fails to mention a host of industry-led initiatives on financial transparency, in the fight against falsified medicines, on data sharing and the adoption of new technologies to measure patient outcomes.  These are all topic areas covered in the report but perhaps articulating these positive steps forward is not in keeping with the report's aims and objectives.

Adopted in 2013, and implemented from 01 January 2014, the EFPIA-PhRMA principles on responsible sharing of clinical trial data go beyond the EU clinical trial regulation and the EMA’s new transparency policies to include the sharing of patient level data with independent research organisations.  EFPIA is a founding member of the European Medicines Versification Organisation (EMVO) that is introducing new technology to track medicines from the factory to the patient, a landmark step in the fight against falsified medicines. Mentioned only in passing is the implementation of the EFPIA Disclosure Code, which mandates the public disclosure of transfers of value from industry to health professionals and healthcare organisations across Europe. Another transformational step. EFPIA and its member companies are working with stakeholder to identify new ways to capture and utilise healthcare data to measure and drive patient outcomes, reduce inefficiency and increase the sustainability of healthcare systems.

All of these initiatives are part of new narrative in healthcare, a narrative that is somehow lost in the report, a narrative that  is bringing together stakeholders from across the healthcare community to drive better outcomes for patients, to increase the availability and usability of healthcare data, to manage the sustainable introduction of innovative treatments and to drive greater transparency and standards.

Working towards this kind of future requires collaboration rather than polarisation of the debate. EFPIA, its member companies are committed to being part of that process.