Statement by Mr. Konstantinos Frouzis, President of the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (SFEE)

Halandri, May 23, 2012

Regarding two issues that recently came to public attention, i.e. the supply shortages of pharmaceutical products in the Greek market and our operational readiness in the event of adverse developments for our country, we at SFEE would like to state unequivocally that patients and their unhindered access to medicines, treatments and healthcare, are our top priority.

In this context, SFEE is doing its best to safeguard and enhance investments in research and development, as well as to maintain dozens of thousands of jobs of executives and scientists working in the sector. However, this requires, as an essential condition, the resolution of the issue of the funding of EOPYY and public hospitals as well as the restoration of the normal flow of payments to pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector.

In this difficult period for our country, SFEE is in constant contact with the caretaker government and is supporting its efforts to ensure the smooth operation of the pharmaceutical market.

The scenarios spread lately by some media about contingency plans for a possible exit of Greece from the euro create a climate of insecurity, which is harmful to our country and its economy and clearly are not on the agenda of SFEE’s discussions.