Richard Bergstrom, Director General of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) is visiting Cyprus on the 10th of May to attend a meeting with the Minister of Health for discussions regarding the implementation of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), in Cyprus as well as the priorities in the health field during the Cyprus’ EU Presidency.
Mr. Bergstrom will also meet with the Minister of Finance, Mr. Vassos Shiarly in order to share experiences of EFPIA’s cooperation with the IMI, and discuss ways of funding innovation in Cyprus.
The IMI, a joint undertaking between the European Union and EFPIA, is Europe’s largest public-private initiative aiming to speed up the development of better and safer medicines for patients. IMI supports collaborative research projects and builds networks of industrial and academic experts in order to boost pharmaceutical innovation in Europe.
EFPIA Director General will be in Cyprus on the initiative of the Cyprus Association of Research and Development Pharmaceutical Companies (KEFEA), which extended an invitation to Mr. Bergstrom for a visit in order to discuss, as well as the implementation of IMI, the priorities of Cyprus concerning the field of health, in view of the Cyprus’ EU Presidency. Commenting on his visit, Mr. Bergstrom said, “I am delighted to visit Cyprus and I look forward to the next EU Presidency. It is always “refreshing” when newer member states drive the work in Council. I also look forward to discuss how I and my member companies can support Cyprus in developing a life science sector”.
A pharmacist by training, Mr. Bergstrom was appointed Director General of EFPIA in March
2011. He has been a member of the EFPIA Board for a number of years, and chairs its Trust Committee and its Task Force on Health Technology Assessment. He is also a Council member of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA).
KEFEA represents the multinational research and development pharmaceutical companies in Cyprus and is a member of EFPIA.
Cyprus Association of Research and Development Pharmaceutical Companies (KEFEA) www.kefea.org.cy
The Cyprus Association of Research & Development Pharmaceutical Companies (KEFEA) was founded in 2006 as the representative body of multinational pharmaceutical companies in Cyprus. Its members are GSK, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and Janssen, altogether employing more than 140 people in Cyprus. It is a member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). KEFEA’s mission is to provide Cypriots with quality healthcare and access to new medicines. Its objectives are to ensure uninterrupted access to medicines at reasonable prices in the Cyprus market, given the acknowledgement of budgetary constraints, provide scientific educational information on diseases and treatments to healthcare providers, ensure that European objectives regarding high healthcare standards are implemented in the Cyprus market, and comply with a common code of ethical practice.