Susan Rienow takes up role of ABPI President

Susan Rienow, UK Managing Director and Country President of Pfizer is all set to take up her role as President of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).

The association had announced her appointment in March. Last year in September she was appointed as the vice-president of ABPI.

In her new role, she will oversee the ABPI, the ABPI Board, and the ABPI’s Code of Practice, which is administered by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA).

Susan takes up the Presidency as negotiations begin for a new Voluntary Scheme for branded medicines pricing between the government, NHS England and the ABPI.

All parties are looking to secure a new agreement that will help improve patient outcomes, support a healthier population and a financially sustainable NHS, while also supporting economic growth for the UK.

Susan’s presidency will have three broad priorities:

·   Agreeing a sustainable successor to the Voluntary Scheme, so that we return the UK to internationally competitive payment rates and deliver a sustainable approach to medicines provision

·       Securing better access to innovative medicines and vaccines for patients on the NHS, which will critical to overcoming the backlog and improving the NHS’s resilience to future health challenges

·    Working in partnership to ensure that life sciences can be a key enabler of future economic growth and prosperity for the UK

Susan Rienow, President of the ABPI said: “Innovative medicines can help transform people’s lives, and getting better access to them for people on the NHS can also help the NHS deal with some of the challenges it faces.

“The life sciences sector is a growth engine for the economy, and ensuring it thrives can help deliver health, wealth and productivity for the whole of the UK.”

Welcoming Susan as President, ABPI Chief Executive Richard Torbett said: Having Susan’s experience and energy behind us will help us drive industry’s priorities forward and forge new relationships in our sector, the NHS and Government. I look forward to working with her as President.”