ABPI and Teenage Cancer Trust CEOs in Keynote Debate at Patient Summit 2012

LONDON, May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Stephen Whitehead, CEO of The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and Simon Davies, CEO of Teenage Cancer Trust will engage in the Keynote Debate at the Patient Summit 2012, it has been announced. With no moderator, the heads will address a variety of topics one-on-one in what has been described as an "armchair debate".

An audience of more than 150 senior industry professionals will be witness to this meeting of minds, marking the beginning of the two day event at the Regents Park Marriott Hotel in London.

Up for debate are the increasing costs involved in developing drugs for rarer strains of diseases, the ABPI Code of Conduct and the ever important subject of patient adherence.

Stephen Whitehead, Chief Executive of the ABPI, said: "I am really pleased to have been invited by the Patient Summit to speak at the end of May and I look forward to discussing how the pharmaceutical industry, in partnership with others, can help deliver better health care in the UK."

He continued, "The expectations of patients are evolving all the time and in recent years we have seen changes in the way they engage with clinicians, their use of technology and their education.  The pharmaceutical industry has been no different and we have seen real transformation in the way companies operate - moving from the old seller/buyer model of the past to working in partnership with the NHS to redesign healthcare pathways.  I think now we need to do the same with patient groups and work more closely with them to draw upon their expertise and insight, whilst identifying what people value most about their medicines."

Speaking ahead of the event, Simon Davies, Chief Executive of Teenage Cancer Trust and Chairman of Cancer 52 was positive about the debate and keen to see this as the beginning of a new working partnership. "I very much look forward to sharing a platform with Stephen Whitehead at the Patient Summit. Patient groups have too often been left out of the equation in current health systems and developing productive relationship with the pharmaceutical industry is as important to them as improving relations with the NHS."

He went on to say, "The current economic climate means that we will all have to work hard to ensure that health systems are efficient and effective to deliver what patients need most. That means dialogue, engagement and collaboration, with patients as equal partners in the process. We look forward to a closer working relationship with the pharmaceutical industry to forge new pathways for excellence in healthcare".

On the prospect on a long-term partnership with patient groups, Whitehead was confident. "In the coming months, there are a number of issues which we will be exploring together including pricing medicines under VBP, the development of orphan medicines and the reputational challenges that we both face.  I am confident that by working in partnership with patient groups we can deliver significant health benefits to people above and beyond what can be delivered by any party in isolation."

The 2012 Patient Summit is taking place at the Regents Park Marriott Hotel in London, England on 29-30 May. For more information on the event visit: http://www.eyeforpharma.com/patient.