The president of Farmaindustria, Fina Lladós, calls for a broader view of healthcare: “Health can no longer be understood solely as a health policy. Health is also an industrial, scientific, economic and security policy.”

More than 200 experts from the pharmaceutical sector are discussing today and tomorrow the technological transformation of the sector, the need to strengthen European competitiveness and the search for models that guarantee rapid and equitable access to innovation for patients in an international context of great uncertainty

Farmaindustria.es / Santiago Tarodo, vicerrector de la UIMP, Fina Lladós, presidenta de Farmaindustria, y Juan Cruz Cigudosa, secretario de Estado de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades.

The Paraninfo at the Menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP) today hosted the first day of the Annual Conference of the Spanish Pharmaceutical Industry, organised by Farmaindustria, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Entitled ‘Pharmaceutical innovation in a changing world: health, competitiveness and strategic security’, the opening ceremony was attended by the Vice-Chancellor of the UIMP, Santiago Tarodo, and the President of Farmaindustria, Fina Lladós Canela, followed by a keynote speech by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Universities, Juan Cruz Cigudosa. In his address, the Secretary of State pointed out that health is no longer merely a sectoral policy, “but a major challenge for the country”, he emphasised. “We saw this change clearly during the pandemic. Its impact changed our perspective and, since then, health has become a strategic priority for Spain.”

For her part, in her address, Fina Lladós – Managing Director of Amgen in Spain – emphasised that, “if this event has endured for a quarter of a century, it is precisely because it has never been just another event on the calendar, but rather a forum for anticipating realities and asking ourselves what we must do to rise to the challenge” of a context marked by unprecedented scientific, technological, economic and geopolitical transformations.

The president of Farmaindustria has highlighted the pharmaceutical industry’s contribution beyond biomedical research, pointing out that the sector also involves “industrial capacity, production capacity, resilient supply chains and a country’s ability to access the necessary resources at times of particular need”. In this regard, she emphasised that Spain now has “a solid and competitive pharmaceutical industrial base, which generates high-quality, diverse and equitable employment, boosts exports and contributes significantly to the country’s economic and technological development”.

Lladós argued that the title chosen for this edition encapsulates “the times we are living in” and called for a broader view of healthcare: “Health can no longer be understood solely as a health policy. Health is also an industrial, scientific, economic and security policy”. The “events of recent years”, he added, have shown that having our own scientific, industrial and technological capabilities “is not just an advantage. It is a necessity”.

Fina Lladós during her opening speech.

At a time when Europe’s ability to regain its leading role in biomedical innovation is being determined, amidst growing global competition, the president of Farmaindustria emphasised that the sector’s regulatory framework – currently under review – will be crucial to increasing the continent’s competitiveness. “Both Europe and Spain are undertaking far-reaching reforms that will shape the capacity of our systems to attract innovation, drive research and ensure that advances reach patients for years to come,” she stated.

“Getting these regulatory changes right will be crucial. Because the rules we design today will shape tomorrow’s healthcare, scientific and industrial ecosystem. And because the real challenge lies in striking the right balance between innovation, access, competitiveness and sustainability,” added Lladós.

The president of Farmaindustria concluded her speech by placing the patient at the centre of the entire sectoral debate: “Behind every debate on regulation, there are patients waiting for an answer. Behind every decision on innovation, there are families longing for more time and a better quality of life. Behind every technological advance, there is a human hope.”

25 years of the sector’s key forum

Over the course of its 25-year history, the Annual Pharmaceutical Industry Conference at the UIMP has established itself as one of the leading forums for reflection and dialogue on the present and future of healthcare, biomedical innovation and pharmaceutical policy in our country.

This year’s event brings together more than 200 high-level experts from the pharmaceutical sector, including those responsible for pharmaceutical policy in virtually all the autonomous communities and other public administrations, company chief executives, heads of key sectors within the industry, consultants, academics and patient representatives, who are currently discussing the sector’s technological transformation, the need to strengthen European competitiveness and the search for models that guarantee rapid and equitable access to innovation for patients in an international context of great uncertainty.

Group photo of the speakers on the first day of the conference.