Significant results for the 2024–2025 period were presented by the Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Technology (IFET) during the New Year’s cake-cutting event, through a brief report delivered by the organization’s CEO, Ms. Eleftheria Tokatlidi.
The event was attended by the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr. Nikitas Kaklamanis; the Minister of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis; the Deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Marios Themistokleous; the Secretary General for Strategic Planning of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Aris Angelelis; the President of EOF (National Organization for Medicines), Mr. Spyros Sapounas; the Secretary General for Migration Policy and former President of IFET, Ms. Konstantina Papakosta; the Deputy Vice President of SFEE (Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies), Mr. Kostas Panagoulias; the authorized advisor of PEF (Panhellenic Union of Pharmaceutical Industry), Mr. Vasilis Pentafragkas; the Vice President of the Hellenic Rare Diseases Patients Association, Mr. Dimitris Athanasiou; the non-executive President of EOPYY (National Organization for Healthcare Services Provision), Ms. Vasiliki-Konstantina Gogkozotou; the Pharmaceutical Policy Advisor to the Minister of Health, Mr. Babis Karathanos; the Director of SFEE, Mr. Michalis Cheimonas; and the Second Vice President of EOF, Mr. Ilias Gouzousis. Also in attendance were the President of SHIP, Mr. Christos Iatros; the Head of Public Affairs of the Hellenic Patients’ Association, Mr. Anastasios Samouilidis; the President of EAAFACH, Ms. Flora Bakopoulou; the President of EKAPTY, Ms. Dimitra Pappa; the President of the Panhellenic Association of Patients with Neurofibromatosis, Ms. Lamprini Sotiropoulou; the President of EETAA, Mr. Dimitris Maravelias; hospital administrators, as well as numerous representatives of institutional bodies, patient associations, pharmaceutical companies, and pharmaceutical warehouses from across the country.

As she noted, over the past two years IFET has undergone a substantial transformation in the way it operates, aiming to ensure uninterrupted patient access to essential and unique therapies, reduce shortages, and rationalize pharmaceutical expenditure.

In his address, the Minister of Health stated, among other things: “IFET is a model public organization. And that, in itself, is a very significant achievement.”

More specifically, as Ms. Tokatlidi stated, during the 2024–2025 period:

• Medicines with zero or critically low stock levels decreased from 112 to just 8.
• Delivery times were reduced from 2–4 months to 7–10 days in most cases.
• The number of patients (AMKA) covered by specialized and innovative therapies doubled.
• Access was provided to 160 new therapies approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• A total of 219 new medicines were introduced into the country, while today more than 850 different pharmaceutical products are in circulation, mainly for rare diseases.

Particular emphasis was placed on the field of rare diseases, where IFET reaffirmed its role as a key pillar of the National Health System. In 2025, 69% of the Organization’s total sales concerned orphan drugs, marking a 52% increase compared to 2024, reflecting the coverage of real and growing needs.

Enhanced access alongside cost optimization

At the same time, the expansion of access was accompanied by effective cost control. During the 2024–2025 period, an average price reduction of 18% was achieved, generating total savings of over €78 million for the public healthcare system, without any compromise in the quality or availability of therapies.

Notably, 91% of IFET’s turnover relates to individualized treatments involving unique medicines sourced from abroad that are not available in the Greek market, while access was also provided to more than 50 medicines exclusively approved by the FDA, which were not reimbursed in other European countries.

Operating model shift

These results were driven by a comprehensive transformation in IFET’s operating model:

• Strengthening the Organization’s credibility and negotiating power,
• Partnerships with more than 215 accredited suppliers,
• Leveraging digital tools for forecasting and procurement,
• Implementation of the Dynamic Purchasing System as of June 2025, enhancing transparency and promoting fair competition.

At the same time, IFET’s Research Laboratory was upgraded, with the aim of evolving into a national hub for pharmaceutical research, while the Irradiation Unit in Magoula was also enhanced and now features a modern industrial irradiator for medical devices.

Strategic Objectives for 2026

Looking ahead, IFET sets the following key objectives for 2026:

• Zeroing out critical shortages
• Further acceleration of access to therapies
• περαιτέρω ενίσχυση της παραγωγικής και ψηφιακής του υποδομής,
• and the launch of a new digital platform to improve patient information and service experience.

Concluding the report, IFET’s CEO, Ms. Eleftheria Tokatlidi, after warmly thanking the Minister of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, for his consistent and substantial support and trust in our work, the Secretary General for Strategic Planning, Dr. Aris Angelelis, as well as the President of EOF, Mr. Spyros Sapounas, for the excellent cooperation, stated:
“Progress in healthcare is the result of coordination and a shared direction, and effective collaboration confirms this every day.”

Our objective is clear: for IFET to remain a stable, reliable, and modern public organization that guarantees no patient will be left without treatment because their medicine is scarce or unavailable in the Greek market.
This, after all, is our guiding principle: “Our priority is the patient.” We now procure medicines at the lowest prices in Europe.

Over the past two years, we have proven that the public sector can operate swiftly, modernly, with transparency and efficiency. This is a victory, and we must preserve it and build upon it.

From the IFET Press Office