The Spanish Association for Osteoporosis and Arthritis (AECOSAR), the Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Confederation (ACCU), Cancer Patients Europe, the European Academy of Patients on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI), the Spanish Diabetes Federation (FEDE), the Spanish Cancer Patients Group (GEPAC), the Spanish Rheumatology League (LIRE), Lymphoma Coalition, and Macular Retina have collaborated on a document, promoted by BioSim, regarding the expectations and views of patients on biosimilars.
During the development of the document, all patients emphasized that the information they received from healthcare professionals about biosimilars mostly focused on the cost-saving aspect to the healthcare system.
The director of ACCU Spain, Antonio Valdivia, highlighted the challenge of explaining the difference between biologics and biosimilars, emphasizing the need for more personalized care, quality of attention, and quality of life that biosimilars can offer.
Patients expressed the need for clear information on how treatments, whether biologics or biosimilars, would impact their daily lives. They also emphasized the importance of adequate consultation time to understand new therapies.
Pedro Rascon, the secretary of Macular Retina, stressed the importance of providing patients with quality information in an accessible language, differentiating between the communication given to healthcare professionals and patients.
Natacha Bolanos, from the Lymphoma Coalition, highlighted the necessity for better explanations on the differences between biologic drugs and biosimilars to build patient trust and improve treatment adherence.
She emphasized the importance of shared decision-making between patients and healthcare providers to ensure proper information exchange before any treatment changes.
The importance of preparing the healthcare system to inform people with disabilities about these treatments and guiding them to reliable sources of information was also underscored.
Transparency in pricing policies and reinvestment of savings from biosimilars into the healthcare system, which currently amounts to around 2 billion euros annually, was deemed crucial by the organizations involved.
Encarnación Cruz, the general director of BioSim, explained that reinvestment strategies already exist in other countries, where half of the savings can go back into the system and the other half can be allocated to enhancing healthcare activities.
Increasing transparency around the benefits of biosimilars, both in terms of cost savings and improved healthcare outcomes, was seen as essential by both patients and healthcare professionals. The organizations also stressed the importance of including biosimilars in the agenda of both governmental bodies and the pharmaceutical industry.
FUENTE