MEDICINES
matter
January 2010
Pharmaceutical industry has key role in Ireland’s economic recovery and in the delivery of cost effective healthcare Speaking at the Annual Dinner of the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), with Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney TD and representatives of several Government agencies, the Health Service Executive, the various healthcare professional bodies and the pharmaceutical industry in attendance, Dr Gerald Farrell, IPHA President emphasised the international researchbased pharmaceutical industry’s key role in Ireland’s economic recovery and in the delivery of cost effective healthcare: “We must build on our successes to date and, rather than repeating the policy errors of previous recessions I can see a golden opportunity to drive through real change. It is with this in mind that I look to the future. Looking ahead, the allocation of resources which support a properly structured system, with patients able to
access care at the lowest appropriate level is now more important than ever. The appropriate use of innovative medicines is central to the best use of limited funds. New medicines have helped patients to recover from ill health, faster and more fully. They have made it possible to prevent, or slow, the development of many diseases. They have turned for example, previously fatal illnesses into manageable chronic conditions and helped patients avoid the discomfort of invasive surgery or expensive hospital treatment or costly time off work. Medical innovation has been crucially important in delivering better health outcomes and there is every sign that it will be at least as important in the future. For example, the development by this industry of anti-virals and flu vaccines is currently enabling our society to deal with the threat posed by the swine flu
pandemic. Further such gains can however only be secured if R&D is appropriately rewarded in the marketplace through adequate patent protection and fair selling prices.” He went on to speak about the extensive opportunity ahead of us not just for the health of the nation but for the wealth of the nation. However he warned, like other industries, many pharmaceutical companies are being forced to make tough decisions to survive in these difficult economic times – and other countries in Europe and Asia, are actively trying to lure away innovative businesses emphasising the fact that jobs provided by the pharmaceutical sector could not be taken for granted and that now, more than ever, it was essential that policy decisions preserved and developed incentives for future investment.
Read the full speech delivered by Dr Farrell and learn more about the research-based pharmaceutical industry at www.ipha.ie. From left to right: Dr Paul Oslizlok (IHCA President), Dr John Morris (IMO President), Ms Kelvina Galavan (MRII President), Minister Mary Harney, Dr Gerald Farrell (IPHA President), Ms Martina Doyle (PMII President), Dr Liam Lacey (ICGP President) at the IPHA Annual Dinner.
Annual Meeting and Dinner IN THIS ISSUE
Corporate Responsibility
Self-care Working Group
and more...
Chronic disease is a leading cause of death and a key healthcare cost driver in our country Dr Gerald Farrell, IPHA President stated In his opening address to the IPHA Annual Meeting that there was a need to change the debate on healthcare expenditure if real progress was to be made in healthcare delivery in the decade ahead. “Today, hundreds of thousands suffer from largely preventable chronic disease – such as diabetes and heart disease. Chronic disease is a leading cause of death and a key healthcare cost driver in our country. If we are going to bend the curve on rising healthcare expenditure, then we have to seriously address the chronic disease epidemic sweeping our country otherwise we face a potential health crisis which could overwhelm the system in the years ahead. We now live in a world where if a condition is diagnosed early, it can often be quickly, effectively and efficiently treated using innovative medicines, other medical interventions and behaviour modification.” Fortunately, we’ve made significant strides in recent years. Medical advances over the past several decades have revolutionised how we battle disease. Thanks in part to new medicines, death rates for cancer and heart disease have been sharply reduced in Ireland. This progress is real. It has improved the lives of thousands of Irish
Dr Gerald Farrell (IPHA President) Mr Brian Dobson (Moderator) at the IPHA Annual Meeting.
patients, and it has helped save money by reducing the need for avoidable hospitalisations and A&E visits. “The IPHA and its members stand willing to work with all key healthcare stakeholders, on health promotion and early intervention initiatives so that we can start to tackle these problems. A healthier population is central to our economic
recovery for such a population places fewer demands on the healthcare system, freeing up resources which can then be invested in the further development of a knowledge based economy” concluded Dr Farrell. To read the full speech and view the presentations from all speakers please visit www.ipha.ie
Dr Eiblin Connolly (Deputy CMO, Department of Health and Children), Dr Gerald Farrell (IPHA President), Mr Sandy Johnston (PWC) at the IPHA Annual Meeting.
Web improvements provide greater access to information on medicines, clinical trials and the industry in Ireland redeveloped to consist of a more user friendly look and feel, better site navigation, new help manuals, improved search functionality, print friendly Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information Leaflets and tools for the blind and partially sighted such as font size selector and screen reader accessibility.
ipha.ie Earlier this year IPHA launched a new and improved website to enhance access to information about the industry in Ireland. The new website features vastly improved navigability and updated content. New features and functionality have also been introduced such as a new search function, RSS Feeds and the new monthly IPHA eBulletin – all of which aim to help the user find information easier and stay informed.
medicines.ie medicines.ie, the most comprehensive source of information on medicinal products available in Ireland, was recently
These improvements make it easier than ever for anyone to find and access good, reliable, trustworthy information on the correct use of their medicines, to check the possible side effects and to find out more about the correct storage of their medicines. The medicines.ie CD-ROM version 2009/2010, which is a copy of the information available on the website was distributed to healthcare professionals all over Ireland free of charge in October, it is primarily designed for those who continue to have limited access to the internet in their place of work. Similar to medicines.ie the CD-ROM version provides Irish specific and reliable IMB/EMEA approved information on over 2,000 medicines currently available in Ireland. You may access the various websites via www.ipha.ie.
IFPMA Clinical Trials Portal The IFPMA Clinical Trials Portal (clinicaltrials.ifpma.org) now features a new interface which allows patients and healthcare professionals to more easily access comprehensive information on ongoing clinical trials (registry) or results of completed trials (database) conducted by the industry. Improvements to the myPortal (Personal login) functionality now allows users to define specific search queries, for example trials for a particular disease in a particular country, and then request an e-mail alert which is sent to the user every time a relevant new clinical trial is posted. The introduction of a glossary of terms and easy explanations system also allows users who may be unfamiliar with medical terms to get a full understanding of clinical trials postings.
IPHA welcomes four new Board members Mr Fergal McGarry (MBA) and Dr Neil Boyle MB BCh BAO Dip. Pharm. Med. FFPM RCP (UK) joined the IPHA Board of Directors earlier this year while Ms Leisha Daly PhD and Ms Colette Langan recently joined the IPHA Prescription Medicines Division Strategy Board.
Mr Fergal McGarry
Dr Neil Boyle
Dr Leisha Daly
Ms Colette Langan
Mr Fergal McGarry is a graduate of Dublin City University and holds an MBA from York University in Toronto, Canada. He has worked within the healthcare industry for over twenty years in Canada, the UK and Scandinavia and has served as the Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Ireland, incorporating McNeil Healthcare, for the past six years. A native of Sligo, Dr Neil Boyle attended the National University of Ireland Galway where he graduated with an honours degree in medicine in 1989. He worked in Clinical Medicine from 1989 to 1992 and spent his last year as Medical Registrar in Sligo General Hospital. Since 1992 he has worked in various positions within the industry in Ireland and abroad and is currently Managing Director of Merck Sharp and Dohme Ireland (Human Health) Ltd. Dr Leisha Daly graduated with a PhD in Clinical Medicine from Trinity College, Dublin and following some years in medical research joined the industry in 1990 as Technical Advisor for Hoechst Ireland. Leisha held various roles before joining Janssen-Cilag as Head of Technical Affairs in 1998. Having moved from Medical Affairs into Sales & Marketing, Leisha was subsequently appointed to her current position of Country Manager at Janssen-Cilag in November 2008. Ms Colette Langan is currently the Country Manager for Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals in Ireland and Finland having progressed through the company over an 11 year period. During that time she has worked in several marketing and commercial roles until her appointment in January 2007 as Country Manager in Ireland. This brief expanded in October 2008 to include responsibility for Finland. Colette has completed the General Management Programme at CEDEP/INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.
Pharmaceutical industry corporate responsibility is ‘Driven by Health’ IPHA has launched a new publication, entitled ‘Driven by Health’, which demonstrates how the international research-based pharmaceutical industry, through its various initiatives individually, collectively and as part of society, has not only become a leading corporate responsibility performer in Ireland with a sustainable future, but has also emerged as a key partner alongside international aid organisations and Governments in the area of global healthcare. Ms Loretto Callaghan, Novartis with a Trinity Medical Student and Taoiseach Brian Cowen at the launch of World Hypertension Day.
tangible and intangible impact that the international research-based pharmaceutical industry can have on Ireland.
Psychologist Dr Mark Harrold with the then Education Minister, Ms Mary Hanafin TD and nutritionist, Ms Paula Mee at the launch of the Pfizer ‘Way2Go’ Programme.
For many pharmaceutical companies, corporate responsibility is a fully integrated element of their strategies and operations. This implies that, in addition to following a socially responsible business model (consistent with global standards such as health, safety, ethical and environment policies as an example), companies undertake many additional activities related to healthcare, particularly (but not exclusively) in the developing world.
In recent years, the subject of corporate responsibility has become increasingly important to shareholders, Government, employees and communities. This is a welcome trend and recognises both the
Recent Winners of the Merck Sharpe and Dohme Health Literacy Awards.
Ms Ann Corish with Derby winner High Chaparral at Coolmore Stud during Arthritis Ireland/Abbott Ireland RA Work a Day.
To download the publication or learn more about the corporate responsibility activities of the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland and globally visit www.ipha.ie.
www.ipha.ie •
Pharmaceutical industry has 23 vaccines in development for HIV/Aids without which infections could double globally, 1st December 2009
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IPHA marks the 2nd European Antibiotic Awareness Day, 18th November 2009
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Mr. Haruo Naito, President and CEO of Eisai Co Ltd, confirmed as new president of the IFPMA, 4th November 2009
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MEPs and industry debate shared commitment to deliver 21st Century healthcare systems in times of crisis, 3rd November 2009
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Pharma moves quickly to provide Emergency Aid after Natural Disasters across Asia and the Pacific, 9th October 2009
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Benefits of medicines substantially outweigh the cost, 1st October 2009
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IPHA makes submission to the Consultation on the National Positive Ageing Strategy, 1st October 2009
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Innovative Medicines Initiative: putting Europe at the forefront of biopharmaceutical innovation, 15th September 2009
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IPHA submission to the Expert Group on Resource Allocation and Financing in the Health Sector, 10th July 2009
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Pharmaceutical companies are ready for the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic, 17th June 2009
To find these articles please visit the latest news section on
www.ipha.ie, or for a quick find use the search facility.
Self-Care Working Group will seek to unlock hidden asset in the Irish healthcare system It is an established fact that savings, in the region of €75 million, could be achieved if the benefits of self-care and responsible self-medication, a hidden asset in the Irish healthcare system, were fully realised. Earlier this year IPHA organised a roundtable meeting in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland bringing together the various stakeholders involved in self-care to discuss its role and in particular the role of self-medication in the healthcare system and public health in Ireland. Its purpose was the development, on a partnership basis, of a pro-active framework within which an increasing range of medicines could be made available without prescription in pharmacy and by general sale. By switching the legal status of the medicine and thereby increasing the range of medicines available to consumers this would ensure better access for all to the health, social and economic benefits of accessible and responsible self-medication. To date, in Ireland, the onus has been on the pharmaceutical industry to propose the reclassification of a medicine from prescription only to pharmacy-only sale or from pharmacy-only sale to general sale. However, the roundtable demonstrated that the various stakeholders had a common public health interest and that they should
Speakers at the IPHA ‘Switch-On to Self-Care’ Roundtable meeting included (from left to right) Dr Olive Smyth (Irish Medicines Board), Ms Heather Ann McSharry (the IPHA Vice-President), Ms Damhnait Gaughan (Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland), Ms Marita Kinsella (Chief Pharmacist), Mr Robert Bucklebee (AC Nielsen), Ms Anne Nolan (IPHA Chief Executive) and Prof Colin Bradley (Prof of General Practice, University College Cork).
seek opportunities to advance that common interest in the development of a healthier society. Education was key and profiling what was happening already could help to give all parties confidence that it was appropriate to move ahead on self-care. In concluding the roundtable it was agreed that a Self-Care Working Group should be established from the various interested
stakeholders to advance the issues raised. This group is due to meet in early 2010. If you or your organisation would be interested in getting involved please contact ronancollins@ipha.ie. To read the report from the roundtable and to learn more visit www.self-care.ie.
Pictured is Ms Anne Nolan (IPHA Chief Executive) with Murray Whooley and his Assistance Dog, Clive and Puppy in Training Brie at the 11th annual IPHA charity golf event where €12,500 was raised in aid of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. A total of 12 teams entered the event at the Glen of the Downs Golf Club, Delgany, Co Wicklow with a significant number of IPHA member companies also providing sponsorship. This brings the total raised by IPHA in the last 11 years to over €230,000.
Industry is working to address the growing risk of counterfeit medicines in Europe A pilot project to help reduce the risk of counterfeit medicines being dispensed to patients was launched recently in Sweden. The pilot is based on a system that verifies medicines at the point of dispensing. Using a small data matrix similar to a barcode - to individually number each pack of medicine, the system provides the pharmacist with an almost instantaneous verification as to whether a pack has been previously dispensed immediately alerting them to the potential risk that the pack may be counterfeit. The system was trialled in 25 retail pharmacies in and around Stockholm and verified more than 100,000 products. The data matrix, smaller than a fingernail, can contain enough data to individually code each pack of medicine with information including the product code, batch number, the expiry date and a unique, randomised serial number which identifies packs individually.
The system is part of the pharmaceutical industry’s response to the European Commission’s proposal for a mass serialisation of medicinal products as part of measures to better protect EU citizens from the serious threats posed by counterfeit medicines. It is hoped the system can offer the basis for a costeffective, harmonised and interoperable system across EU Member States. This will help reduce the risk of a proliferation of incompatible national systems, and help ensure product verification for medicines wherever they are dispensed within the EU.
By investing in this pilot project, industry has demonstrated its contribution to meeting the challenge posed by counterfeit medicines entering the legitimate supply chain as part of its ongoing commitment to patient safety. Individual product verification will not provide a complete solution to the challenge of counterfeit medicines. Nevertheless, as part of a package of measures, this type of end-to end verification system will make a significant contribution to product security and reinforce patient confidence in the legitimate supply chain.
For more information on the pilot project andcounterfeit medicines please visit www.ipha.ie
Medicines Matter is published by the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) which represents the international research-based pharmaceutical industry in Ireland. Its member companies include both manufacturers of prescription medicines and non-prescription or consumer health care medicines. Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association Franklin House 140 Pembroke Road Dublin 4 Ireland www.ipha.ie Tel: (353 1) 660 3350 www.medicines.ie Fax: (353 1) 668 6672 www.feelbetter.ie E-mail: info@ipha.ie www.self-care.ie
Content: Anne Nolan, Brian Murphy, Ronan Collins, Michelle Kurtz Publisher: Š Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association Ltd Design and production: Slick Fish Design, Dublin