On 9 December 2024, Luxembourg hosted the annual General Assembly of the Beneluxa Initiative, bringing together member states to review progress, exchange ideas, and plan for the future. The day was filled with presentations on ongoing activities, interactive workshops on key topics such as international collaboration, the potential of horizon scanning, the use of webinars and the implementation of the EU HTA regulation, as well as dynamic discussion sessions. Key outcomes highlighted the importance of collaboration both on a strategic and technical level, in particular on joint challenges and potential solutions. Concrete needs, not only at EU level but also at regional level, should be identified and addressed through collaborative efforts. The gathering and sharing of information between Member States and the public should also be given priority.
Moreover, representatives from the European Commission, the International Horizon Scanning Initiative (IHSI), and the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum shared valuable insights. Countries across initiatives face common challenges, such as dealing with new, high-priced medicines. The Beneluxa initiative remains dedicated to providing and sharing information on these critical topics, as demonstrated in webinars on Alzheimer’s disease or Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Recognizing the importance of collaboration beyond its member countries, the Beneluxa initiative will continue its collaboration with IHSI and the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum for strengthening information exchange and dissemination activities.
A highlight of the meeting was the official handover of the Chair and Vice-Chair roles within the initiative. We extend our gratitude to the Netherlands and Ireland for their dedicated leadership as the outgoing Chair and Vice-chair and warmly congratulate Ireland and Luxembourg on taking up the role as the Chair and Vice-chair.
The discussions continued on 10 December 2024 during the Steering Committee meeting. This session delved into strategic and operational matters, including:
Insights into national policies and political developments,
Updates from the Domain Task Forces (DTFs),
Planning for the future direction and activities of the initiative, and
Exploring avenues for deeper collaboration among member states.
In the course of the meetings, the Minister of Health and Social Security, Martine Deprez, honored us with her visit. We extend our sincere thanks to the Ministry of Health and Social Security Luxembourg for hosting these important meetings. The exchanges in the General Assembly and Steering Committee Meeting will strengthen the Beneluxa Initiative’s mission to foster collaboration and innovation in health policy in the interest of making medicines accessible, affordable, and available.
Last update: 14 December 2024