Big Pharma in the EU : Dutch healthcare institute "Zorginstituut Nederland" says drugs companies are effectively blackmailing officials by refusing to be transparent about their prices

The Dutch healthcare institute "Zorginstituut Nederland" said recently insurers should stop paying for expensive drugs if pharmaceutical companies continue to refuse to say how they arrive at their pricing.

The institute, which assesses the efficacy of new drugs and advises the government on whether they should be included in the basic healthcare policy, says the drugs companies are effectively blackmailing officials by refusing to be transparent about their prices.

Last years June announcement that Ireland is joining the Beneluxa Initiative on Pharmaceutical Policy might suggest renewed vigour for the drive to equip national governments with more clout in their pricing negotiations with international drug firms.

The likelihood is that better-informed health authorities will be better equipped to confront drug firms. Similarly, drug firms will be obliged to present more cogent justifications for their pricing ambitions/

 As has been proven in the US, Pharmaceutical companies. also known there as "Big Pharma, can not be left operating with little or no strict Governmental controls.

In the US this has led to a steady rise in the cost of pharmaceutical products for consumers.

 It is more than obvious the Pharmaceutical industry must be closely monitored in two major areas: a) Their pricing structures and practices, and b) Providing far more transparency in their marketing and sales activities, specifically as it relates to the insurance and medical industry.

In Europe the initiatives of the Beneluxa Initiative on Pharmaceutical Policy certainly are a step in the right direction, but unfortunately Government support and action has been extremely slow, while the Pharmaceutical lobby in the EU Parliament, however, like it has been in the US Congress and Senate, has been vigorous and very effective.

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The Dutch healthcare institute Zorginstituut Nederland said in February insurers should stop paying for expensive drugs if pharmaceutical companies continue to refuse to say how they arrive at the price. The institute, which assesses the efficacy of new drugs and advises the government on whether they should be included in the basic healthcare policy, says the drugs companies are effectively blackmailing officials by refusing to be transparent about their prices. Leadiant Biosciences told DutchNews.nl in a statement: ‘We follow the discussion and the AMC initiative. Bringing medicines for rare diseases like CTX to patients and families in need requires a collaboration between industry and health systems, including governments, regulators, insurers, advocacy groups, and health professionals. ‘At the heart of the issue is ensuring the medicines we develop and deliver meet the appropriate standards of safety, efficacy and quality – and are accessible to the people who need them. We will continue to engage with the relevant stakeholders on solutions that address these needs.’ The company did not comment on the reason behind the price hike.

Read more at DutchNews.nl:

Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium begin joint air policing - by Nicholas Fiorenza

 Two Belgian Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter aircraft began the joint air policing of the airspace of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (Benelux) on 1 January.

The Belgian fighters will be on 15-minute quick reaction alert (QRA) for the first four months of 2017, after which two Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) F-16s will take over.

The arrangement was agreed by the Benelux in March 2015. Until the end of 2016, two Belgian F-16s were on QRA for Belgium and Luxembourg and two Dutch F-16s for the Netherlands.

Belgian Defence Minister Steven Vandeput described the arrangement as "ground breaking". Similarly, his Dutch counterpart, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, called it a "milestone", adding, "The pilots and fighter aircraft we thereby free up can be deployed elsewhere, for example in the UN, EU or whatever other context." The agreement will also allow more flight training, Vandeput pointed out.

Vandeput said no other countries trust each other to deal with air threats within each other's' borders. The authorities of the country over which an air threat emerges can now give instructions to the fighters on QRA, whether Belgian or Dutch. The Belgian defence minister would do so through the control and reporting centre in Glons, Belgium, while the Dutch minister for security and justice would do the same through the air operations control station in Nieuw Milligen, the Netherlands. The defence minister of Luxembourg is the responsible authority of the Grand Duchy.

The technical agreement on Benelux air policing was signed on 21 December 2016 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, by the commander of the Belgian Air Component, Major General Frederik Vansina, his RNLAF counterpart, Lieutenant General Dennis Luyt, and Luxembourg's ambassador to the Netherlands, Pierre-Louis Lorenz.The two Belgian F-16s currently on QRA are bas

Read more: Netherlands and Belgium begin joint air policing | IHS Jane's 360

Benelux: Insurance Industry: Carpenter Appoints Miller-van der Schild as Managing Director of Benelux Unit

Susanne Miller-van der Schild

Guy Carpenter & Co. has appointed Susanne Miller-van der Schild as managing director, Guy Carpenter Benelux, effective 1 February.

Miller-van der Schild will be responsible for further developing Guy Carpenter’s platform in the region, and in particular strengthening its position in the Dutch market, the company said in a statement.

Based in Rotterdam, and working closely with the firm’s offices in Brussels and London, she will report to Roelant de Haas, CEO, Benelux.

During her 25-year reinsurance career, Miller-van der Schild has held a number of senior managerial positions. Most recently, she was group reinsurance and insurance manager for SNS REAAL, having joined the company in 2006.

 Prior to this, she was a senior relationship manager for Aon Re, responsible for key Dutch clients. She began her industry career at Nationale Borg-Maatschappij in 1990, rising to the position of relationship manager for the firm’s reinsurance department.

Commenting on the appointment, de Haas said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Susanne. During her extensive career, she has amassed a wealth of knowledge across the reinsurance sector, spanning in particular the life, non-life and disability markets.

She also brings a deep understanding of all aspects of Solvency II and was involved in the development of numerous capital relief solutions. Highly motivated, innovative in her approach and with wide-ranging market insight, Susanne is a great addition to the Benelux team.”

Nick Frankland, CEO of EMEA Operations at Guy Carpenter, added: “Benelux is a key market for Guy Carpenter and in recent years we have significantly increased our presence across the region. Susanne’s hire will further add to our capabilities in and focus on the Dutch market following the opening of our office in Rotterdam in 2014. Adding her experience and expertise underlines our commitment to the Netherlands client base and significantly reinforces our value offering across the Benelux region.”

Guy Carpenter & Co are a part of the Marsh & McLenna group

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