This European Policy Centre (EPC) event sought to shed light on the BeNeLuxA collaboration initiative and assess its success and pitfalls while fostering a debate on how access to innovative drugs can be improved for all patients. Drawing on the results of the initiative, panellists discussed how cooperation between member states can be strengthened and made more effective, while reflecting on the role of the EU in this respect. Maggie De Block, Belgian Minister of Public Health & Social Affairs, opened the Policy Dialogue with a keynote speech, which was followed by a panel discussion that brought together academics, patients’ advocates, EU and national policymakers, as well as the pharmaceutical industry.

Speakers included: Claire Dhéret, Head of the Social Europe & Well-being Programme at the EPC, Jaime Espin, WHO expert; Professor, Andalusian School of Public Health, José Inácio Faria, Member of the European Parliament, Group of the European People's Party, Elizabeth Kuiper, Executive Director, European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, Simone Boselli, Public Affairs Director, EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe, Diane Kleinermans, Advisor to the Belgian Minister of Public Health & Social Affairs.