ABPI Conference 2015: The Affordability Conundrum

Affordability of medicines was the topic of the day at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry’s (ABPI) annual conference in London today.

The theme was ‘The Affordability Conundrum’, from access to medicines to the cost-benefit ratio. UK newsreader Fiona Bruce hosted the event, launching the conference with reference to recent headlines over access to hepatitis C medications and high-profile cancer drugs. She told delegates it was too simplistic to view the situation as ‘big pharma’ and ‘brave patients,’ and that the issues ran much deeper.

Taking over the baton from ABPI chief executive Stephen Whitehead, who was absent because of ill health, acting CEO Alison Clough admitted there were major challenges ahead for pharma. “We will continue to push for reform," she said. “We want it [affordability] out on the table and discussed in the open.” Citing the ‘affordability conundrum’ as one of the most difficult challenges facing the industry, she said that collaboration was one of the key ways to achieve a solution. “We must make sure that patients get the benefit of access to new medicines,” she concluded.