Significant progress is recorded in clinics studies In Greece in recent years, with numbers showing increasing interest, but at present away from the desired goal.
The interest of the state has been intensified in recent years in the direction of increasing clinical trials. It is a process that brings Greek patients to the center of major scientific developments in treatments, but at the same time it also cuts significant revenue in the national economy.
Recently, the Minister of Health, Adonis GeorgiadisHe pointed out how in recent years we have managed to triple the number of clinical trials in Greece, with significant investments, while at the same time, “patients have access to pioneers and innovative treatments, and some of them see improvement in their health.
At the same time, studies are boosting scientific progress and linking our country to international innovation, “Mr Georgiadis said characteristically, speaking at the meeting of the Special Standing Research and Technology Committee and the Standing Committee on Social Affairs of the House.
As he pointed out, pharmaceutical companies are spending billions of per year internationally on clinical trials, and Greece has significantly increased its participation in recent years.
In 2022 and 2023, invested invested invested 47 billion euros In clinical studies in the EU, with our country absorbing just 128 million eurosa percentage of 0.27%, which is nevertheless increased compared to previous years.
“In the last four years we have tripled the number of clinical trials,” the minister noted, adding how Greece went up to 15th place among the 27 EU countries on the number of studies.
“0.27% are very low. Note, however, that this has already been done since our government – since 2019 we have taken – we have taken a number of measures and have uploaded the number of clinical trials. Before 2019 the percentage was much lower, ”he said.
There is room for further growth, especially in terms of the financial impact of these investments, the Minister of Health said.
Greece’s goals in the following years
In the progress made in the field of clinical trials, “a public health sector that is not often promoted, but is a critical aspect of combating incurable and rare diseases,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also said in a recent weekly review.
In particular, he stressed that in 2019 there were about 100 studies in progress, while in 2024 we reached 564 – a record number for Greece.
‘The goal is to reach the 600 within 2025 and to touch the 1,000 by 2027“, He said specifically.
He made special mention at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki, where Phase 1 clinical trials were carried out in the country, an important step in deepening research activity in the National Health System, as he said.
“We have excellent researchers and we can attract significant investments, both from abroad and from the domestic market,” the prime minister underlined.
What does the pharmaceutical industry propose to increase clinical trials
Her proposals for the increase in clinical trials in Greece have been submitted by the pharmaceutical industry itself. Specifically, in the report of the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Enterprises (SFEE), entitled “How will Greece be attracted to clinical trials”, it is proposed to develop a specific point of access to clinical research information.
Also, the SFEE proposes the following:
Organizing advertising campaigns on clinical trials through channels such as Facebook, Google and TV.
Upgrading the knowledge of hospital staff involved in clinical studies, offering them specialized education.
Targeting to increase participation in educational programs associated with clinical trials
Establishing Hospital Administrations’ performance indicators (eg time from deposit to approval, number of patients involved in clinical trials, etc.).
Creation of special offices or contact points for clinical studies within hospitals.
Strengthening digital infrastructure for the treatment of health crises (eg COVID-19).
With the above interventions, our country can reverse the current situation, turning Greece into a center of clinical trials, says SFEE.
Source: iatropedia.gr