The EAHP Board, elected for three-year terms, oversees the association’s activities. Comprising directors responsible for core functions, it meets regularly to implement strategic goals. Supported by EAHP staff, the Board controls finances, coordinates congress organization, and ensures compliance with statutes and codes of conduct.
February 2017 Board agenda item 4.6 Medicines access and regulation (including HTA, Biosimilars)
Medicines Access
EAHP made a short response to the European Commission’s survey consultation scoping out what role the EU should play in Member State coordination on Health Technology Assessment (HTA). The intention of the reply was simply to register EAHP’s interest in the topic for future, and highlight the role and expertise of the hospital pharmacist in pharmaco-economics at national, regional and local levels.
EAHP has also nominated Frank Jorgenson in response to a Commission call for experts on HTA. More information here.
Biosimilars
The Board Meeting also provides an opportunity for discussion about EAHP’s potential positioning on the topic of biosimilars. Further context to the discussion includes:
– A recent position paper on biosimilars from the European Society for Medical Oncology
– A paper from national medicines regulators on interchangeability
– The creation of an EMA stakeholder working group on biosimilars
– Stakeholder initiatives led by consultancy FIPRA
– An FDA consultation on interchangeability
To also discuss a European Commission (DG Growth NOT Sante) event on Biosimilars scheduled for 5 May 2017. The agenda for the meeting is currently developing. An early draft is available here.
Separately, the European Commission (DG Growth) has also published a Q&A document in 7 languages in a bid to help lift the element of public mystery on the topic. More information here.
Finally, the EAHP secretariat provided assistance to Benoit Hue in gaining an understanding of the situation across Europe in respect to biosimilar substitution policies. More information here.