The Prime Minister met with representatives of pharmaceutical companies within the framework of the active Government Coordination Commission on food product prices. The meeting was held in a discussion format and was attended by representatives of 25 pharmaceutical companies.
The meeting was attended by the Executive Director of the Association of Pharmaceutical Company Representatives and members of the Association. They presented the perspectives of international pharmaceutical companies, including the role international manufacturers play in Georgia, their objectives, and their views on the further development of the issues discussed at the meeting.
During the meeting, the following key perspectives of the pharmaceutical company representatives were outlined:
1) Strategic positioning
“We are present here not only as international manufacturers, but also as long-term partners of Georgia’s healthcare system. Our shared objective is to develop a model in which patients have uninterrupted access to medicines, the state achieves efficient and responsible budget management, and the pharmaceutical sector retains the sustainability necessary for continued investment and development.”
2) The price of medicines as a social burden
“The price of a medicine represents only the visible part of the issue. The broader cost to the state is the so-called social burden. In the case of chronic diseases, loss of productivity may affect not only the patient, but also at least one family member who often assumes a caregiving role. This creates a compounded negative effect on the national economy and GDP—an impact that can be mitigated primarily through timely, appropriate, and effective treatment.
Accordingly, the role of the state is critical. Public health programs should ensure access to full-value therapy and continuity of treatment. In many disease areas, a focus on low price alone cannot ensure adequate and effective care.”
3) Fair pricing and support for reform
“Medicine pricing is a global challenge, and we support international best practice, including fair and reference-based pricing methodologies that reflect the experience of countries with comparable economic conditions to Georgia. The Ministry of Health has already undertaken important steps in this direction. We remain fully prepared to work jointly with the Ministry to address existing gaps and further refine the methodology, so that high-quality medicines are not displaced from the Georgian market and Georgia remains an attractive and open environment for the introduction of innovative therapies.”
4) Statistics and pharmacoeconomic evaluation
“It is essential that the statistical assessment of the ongoing reforms becomes more detailed, systematic, and publicly accessible. Data on price reductions alone are of limited value if we do not also measure the real impact on public expenditure and, most importantly, patient outcomes. Robust pharmacoeconomic evaluation is necessary to demonstrate how effective health programs can improve clinical results and strengthen key economic indicators over the long term.”
Summary
“In the current global environment, successful healthcare systems treat health financing as a strategic, long-term investment. We stand ready to cooperate with the state in building a high-quality healthcare system and to apply the diverse knowledge, expertise, and international experience accumulated within global companies for the benefit of Georgia.”
Links to media interviews and television program appearances given by the Executive Director of the Association, Irakli Margvelashvili, on the above-mentioned issue can be found here: BMG, Rustavi 2, Commersant.
