On May 29, 2024, the Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (AIPM) held its second major professional conference focusing on pharmaceutical innovation. As in 2023, the goal remained unchanged: to foster closer ties between pharmaceutical research & development and the healthcare system. Building on last year’s success, the 2024 conference significantly expanded both the thematic scope and the circle of participants — resulting in a rich, high-impact agenda.

We had the honor of attending as invited guests, representing the SZÍVSN Patient Community alongside President Zsuzsanna Bernáth-Lukács.

A Packed But Productive Program

With seven lectures and seven panel discussions, the event was dense and dynamic. While the packed schedule did not allow time for audience questions or interaction during panels, this did not detract from the value of the content or the constructive atmosphere.

Opening Talks: Where Do We Stand?

The morning began with a brief but insightful presentation by Katalin Szalóki, Director of AIPM, who outlined key developments and upcoming strategic directions within the association.

She was followed by Dr. Judit Bidló, Deputy State Secretary for Healthcare, who shared updates on ongoing and planned programs by the Ministry — notably, the increasingly active role of the Batthyány-Strattmann Foundation.

Innovation in Context: Reality Check

Dr. Tamás Dávid, Deputy Director General for Reimbursement at NEAK, introduced the 2025 edition of the Innovative White Paper, prepared by the Association of Innovative Drug Manufacturers. The document aims to clarify the industry’s mechanisms and dismantle common misconceptions — including the so-called “extra profits” and perceived low therapeutic value of innovative medicines.

Dr. Péter Rózsa (Mediconcept Ltd.) delivered a data-rich analysis of 10 years of experience in individualized reimbursement decisions and also highlighted the growing relevance of the Batthyány-Strattmann Foundation.

Roundtable Insights: Evolving Roles

The pharmaceutical industry roundtable was particularly diverse, with participants from manufacturing, distribution, and retail. One of the key takeaways was that the role of pharmacies and intermediaries is gaining strategic importance, a theme echoed in later discussions.

Later, Prof. Dr. Lajos Botz (University of Pécs) offered a thought-provoking talk on local and global trends in clinical trials. His lecture set the stage for the following panel discussion on how Hungary can remain competitive in the clinical trials sector. While Hungary has historically led the region in clinical research, neighboring countries are catching up quickly, prompting the need for forward-looking strategies.

Digital Health: The Unstoppable Future

A personal highlight was the panel discussion on digital transformation in healthcare — a subject close to our hearts. Participants included:

• Dr. Zsolt Bagyura, Director, Semmelweis University

• Péter Becságh, Roche Hungary

• Dr. Magdolna Kádár, Ministry of Interior

• János Misek, Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta

• Attila Naszlady, Health Development Program

• Zsolt Puskás, National Health IT Service and Development Center

The core message: the National eHealth Infrastructure (EESZT) is a major asset, and its capabilities will continue to expand. Digitalization is inevitable and will soon become the driving force behind health system transformation.

One regrettable gap was the absence of patient organizations in this conversation — a missed opportunity to represent patient needs in the digital shift.

Patient Organization Café – Lessons Learned

One part of the program, intended to facilitate networking between industry stakeholders and patient organizations, fell short of its potential. Due to unclear organization and lack of visibility, meaningful connections were difficult to establish. We hope that next year’s event will better prepare this segment, allowing patient groups to present themselves more effectively.

A Promising Connection for the Future

A particularly positive moment was a hallway discussion with Péter Becságh (Roche), who expressed personal interest in one of our key initiatives: familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). He had worked on FH earlier in his career and showed impressive knowledge of the topic. We hope this encounter leads to an expanded partnership with Roche around this critical health issue.

Final Thoughts

The 2024 AIPM Conference stands out as one of the year’s most impactful events at the intersection of healthcare and pharma innovation. Despite a tight schedule and a few missed networking opportunities, the conference achieved its primary mission: to encourage collaboration, dialogue, and long-term thinking in the interest of better patient outcomes.