Seeking a medicine system that is socially sustainable balanced

With prices of medicines skyrocketing under the current system of medicine development, the shortcomings of this R&D model are increasingly becoming clear. Contributing to the search for possible alternative innovation mechanisms, Wemos, Health Action International and the University of Utrecht brought together representatives of government and academia on Nov 5th at the event ‘Licensing and Public Generated Knowledge: Seeking a Socially Sustainable Balance’.

Over the past months, one example of an exorbitant drug price asked for a medicine has been followed by yet another one, jeopardizing the accessibility of patients to the medicines they need. How do we get to a socially sustainable balance and create a system that is serving the benefit of the public, especially when the Research & Development translated into new innovations is publicly funded?

Panellists and speakers during the event included:

• Prof. Dr. Frank Miedema | Chair NFU Social Responsible Licensing Principles Working Group, UMCU
• Ella Weggen | Senior Global Health Advocate at Wemos
• Jaume Vidal | Senior Policy Advisor at Health Action International
• Dr. Andre Broekmans | Board Member Utrecht Centre for Affordable Biotherapeutics
• Dr. Jennifer Sellin | Assistant Professor at Department of International and European Law, Maastricht University (TBC)
• Victoria Defelippe | President at Universities Allied for Essential Medicines the Netherlands (UAEM NL)

Moderators: Prof. Dr. Aukje Mantel-Teeuwisse and Prof. Dr. Bert Leufkens | Utrecht University

Read the joint press release by HAI, Wemos and Utrecht University.

Watch the event’s livestream:

Update Nov 19th 2019:
Read this blog by our Communications Officer Winne van Woerden about the event.