European pharma trade groups differ on parallel trade in Greece

The European Association of Euro-Pharmaceutical Companies (EAEPC) has written to European Union Health Commissioner Andriukaitis, in response to a letter by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA; The Pharma Letter July 2), which refers to parallel trade and the potential for medicines shortages in the context of the economic crisis in Greece.

The EAEPC, which comprises around 85 drug wholesalers across Europe, regrets that the serious situation in Greece is being used to raise unsubstantiated claims with regard to parallel trade. The fear of shortages due to parallel trade is unfounded: since 2012, when the first signs of a financial crisis surfaced, parallel exports of medicines from Greece have decreased by more than one third. The EAEPC has therefore stated its willingness to meet the Commissioner to ensure the industry’s voice is fairly represented during these complex negotiations in Greece.

SFEE has called for indefinite ban on parallel exports