On 25 September 2015, senior representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, including Richard Bergström, Director General of EFPIA, Imants Sinka and Dita-Erna Sile, respectively Chairman of the Board and Director General of the Latvian Association of International Research-based Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (SIFFA), met in Riga with Latvian Minister of Health Dr. Guntis Belēvičs.

The purpose of the meeting is to kick-start the implementation of the proposals contained within the Letter of Intent, signed between the Latvian government and the pharmaceutical industry on 29 June this year. The principal signatories to the Letter of Intent include EFPIA, SIFFA and the Ministry of Health, as well as the Academy of Science.

This prospective agreement is aimed at facilitating stable and predictable business conditions in the pharmaceutical sector, while fostering effective access to innovative medicines – thereby improving patient health – and creating a favourable environment for research investments.

A major aim of the agreement will be to explore ways to better manage the introduction of new and innovative medicines in Latvia, including examining various funding models, such as paying for outcomes. Against the backdrop of a Latvian government decision to update the nation’s National Cancer Programme, the agreement will also focus on oncology as a priority area.

Richard Bergström said: "We had a very constructive meeting today with the Minister of Health and several officials and experts in Latvia. The introduction of innovative medicines is an important challenge for many health systems in Europe, and countries increasingly are interested in entering into closer collaboration with the Industry through these types of ‘stability agreements’. The Latvian government is working towards a new national cancer programme, and we have had very good discussions on what is needed in terms of structures and procedures to plan for the introduction of new medicines, including focusing on outcomes."

As a concrete result of the discussions, two joint working groups will be set up between the Latvian authorities and the Industry to work on access to oncology drugs and managed entry agreements, respectively.