Call for EU-level action for better adherence to therapies from medical and pharma trade groups

In a lunch debate held at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, the Standing Committee of European Doctors, the European Patients’ Forum, the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union  and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations brought together perspectives of patients, doctors, community pharmacists and the research-based pharmaceutical industry presenting examples of best practices on adherence to therapies and demonstrating how a coordinated, multi-stakeholder and patient-centered approach – involving patients, their carers/families, health professionals, industry, and the public, is a key factor in improving patient safety and the quality of health care tailored to patients’ needs.

Hosting Members of the European Parliament s Linda McAvan (S&D), Christofer Fjellner (PPE) and Cristian Silviu Busoi (ALDE) opened the event by emphasising the vital importance of adherence to therapies. “In the EU alone 194,500 deaths each year are due to misdose of and non-adherence to prescribed medication. Poor adherence carries a huge cost, both in terms of patient safety and quality of life. It also presents a serious problem for health systems, both in terms of inferior health outcomes, unnecessary treatments and hospitalizations“, said Ms McAvan. “The World Health Organization has stressed that increasing the effectiveness of adherence interventions may have a far greater impact on the health of the population than any improvement in specific medical treatments” added Christofer Fjellner.

“When long-term medication is prescribed, 50% of patients fail to adhere to the prescribed regimen” said Przemyslaw Kardas from the Medical University of Lodz, Poland, who gave an overview of facts and figures on non-adherence. "Adherence-enhancing interventions should be adopted as a routine part of normal care, and provided to every patient".