Luis Rhodes Baiao

Could you please detai d missions at the moment? What were your previous work experiences?

After this thrilling internship in Brussels (I’m sure you read it on the previous question), I returned to Portugal to tackle the task of handing in my thesis – it was all about lifelong learning and post-graduation specialization courses for community pharmacists.

Fast forward to my first 7 years of work in a community pharmacy, where I approached my responsibilities with an out-of-the-box mindset. I even established and managed a certified quality system and became the pharmacy deputy director, leading a team of 12 other pharmacists. I also created a peer-learning scheme, where each month a pharmacist would lead a lecture on a chosen topic.

Then, in 2011, the Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society saw my potential and recruited me to lead the International Affairs Department (EPSA experience paying off!). Thanks to my past engagements, I was also stretched to establish the Pharmaceutical Quality Systems Council, the Pharmaceutical Profession Employment Observatory and the Education-Employment Platform

But my journey didn't stop there! After 7 more years in the professional body, I was invited to become a policy advisor to a Member of the European Parliament I got to work on the Committee for Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety (a k a ENVI), shaping healthcare policy at the European level

Now, I manage Governmental and Public Affairs at AESGP (European Self-Care Industry Association), also known as Lobbying (although the name could use some jazzing up!) AESGP represents self-care products, like non-prescription medicines, medical devices, and food supplements And I'm proud to play a pivotal role in the "Inter Association Initiative on Pharmaceuticals in the Environment" as well, where we deal with industry-led activities to mitigate environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals

In my job, I liaise externally with policy-makers (EU institutions), other stakeholders (industry, patients and environment associations), and also coordinating with members at the national level for a synergic approach with regulators and administrations. We aim to bring data and information so that these partners can take a science-based approach to decision making. But lobbying activity needs to be taken internally too. It's crucial to show our members where the political needle is shifting and which direction we should go for the future. After all, everyone loves a change, but no one likes to waste resources in dead-ends.