Pharmaceutical industry representatives in Greece have warned that the country’s hospital medicine reimbursement system is facing serious challenges, after new data showed that companies are effectively covering most of the cost of innovative hospital treatments through the clawback mechanism.
According to figures for the first half of 2025, the clawback rate for hospital medicines reached 80.7%, meaning pharmaceutical companies receive payment for only around one-fifth of their invoiced sales, while returning the remaining amount to the state.
The mechanism, known as clawback, was introduced as an emergency measure during Greece’s financial crisis to control public healthcare spending. However, industry representatives argue that it has now become a permanent funding tool, creating significant pressure on pharmaceutical businesses.
The Association of Pharmaceutical Companies of Greece (SFEE) and the PhARMA Innovation Forum (PIF) expressed concern over the continued increase of the measure, warning that it could affect the sustainability of pharmaceutical innovation and patients’ access to new treatments.
Industry calls for healthcare funding reforms
SFEE and PIF said the current situation reflects deeper structural problems in the financing of hospital pharmaceutical care. They stressed that while Greece already has a regulatory framework for managing medicine costs, stronger implementation and operational changes are needed.
The organizations called for immediate cooperation between the government and the pharmaceutical sector to develop a more sustainable and predictable system for covering healthcare expenses.
They also said they are ready to contribute to reforms aimed at improving the use of available resources, protecting access to innovative therapies and ensuring a viable environment for pharmaceutical companies.
Companies say burden has become disproportionate
PIF President Kavita Patel described the 80.7% clawback level as a worrying development for the future of pharmaceutical innovation in Greece. She said the figures show that a large share of the cost of innovative treatments is being transferred to companies, despite Greece having among the lowest medicine prices in Europe.
SFEE President Olympios Papadimitriou said the lack of a clear long-term strategy for managing pharmaceutical spending creates risks for patients’ future access to new therapies.
According to the industry representatives, the current approach places a disproportionate financial responsibility on pharmaceutical companies and requires a broader dialogue with the state.
Government cites budget limitations
The Ministry of Health has said that Greece’s financial conditions do not allow for a major increase in public pharmaceutical funding and that multinational pharmaceutical companies are able to absorb the additional costs.
SFEE and PIF, however, maintain that continued reliance on clawback is not a sustainable solution and are calling for institutional discussions with the Ministries of Health and Finance to create a fairer and more balanced system.
They argue that only through joint action can Greece ensure both patient access to innovative medicines and the long-term sustainability of pharmaceutical care.
