EGA Press Release

Wednesday, 10 November 2004

EGA ELECTS EMILE LOOF AS PRESIDENT,
EXPLORES ROLE OF GENERIC MEDICINES IN FACING
EUROPE’S HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES

The European Generic medicines Association (EGA) has elected Mr Emile Loof, President of Pharmachemie/TEVA of the Netherlands, as president of the EGA for 2004-2006.

Mr Loof was elected during the meeting of the EGA’s Board of Directors on Tuesday, 9 November, which was held immediately following the 10th Annual EGA Conference in Amsterdam. During this year’s conference, organised under the theme “The Generic Medicines Industry: Meeting the Challenge of European Healthcare”, a steady flow of EU government and industry representatives showed clear evidence of the continued benefits generated for patients and healthcare systems from measures promoting the use of generic medicines in EU Member States.

The Dutch government reported that the promotion of generics in the Netherlands has resulted in an average reduction of 40% in the price of medicines with savings of €622 million expected for 2004. Targeted savings for 2005 have been set at €685 million. Portugal saw a drop in the growth of its spending on medicines from 10.4% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2003 after implementing measures to encourage generic prescribing and dispensing. Generics are now available in Portugal for 18 new therapeutic areas such as Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, depression, cardiovascular diseases and Parkinson. In the United Kingdom, where the average price of a generic medicine is €7.02 compared to €28.03 for originator products, generics make up nearly 50% of all medicines dispensed. The National Health Service estimates the savings from generic medicines at nearly €1 billion per year. In Poland the medicines bill has risen from 3 billion zlotys in 1999 to 6.1 billion zlotys in 2003. The Polish government expects to cap this increase in 2004 through the increased use of lower-priced generics.

Mr Loof, reviewing these figures upon his election, congratulated EGA members for the role their companies are playing in helping to maintain European healthcare costs at sustainable levels. He also reminded members that a great deal of work remains to be done to ensure rapid and equitable access to affordable medicines throughout Europe. Mr Loof stated:

“By working hand in hand with government officials to implement fully the provisions of the new EU pharmaceutical legislation and the G10 recommendations to promote generic prescribing and dispensing, we can continue to increase the availability of cost-effective generic medicines to Europe’s patients. I ask you to join me in dedicating my presidency of the EGA to meeting this challenge of affordable healthcare in Europe.”

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Emile Loof - Photo & Biography

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