The Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (APME) is a non-profit organization that represents research-based manufacturers of original medicines and generic medicine companies operating in Estonia, whose production is intended for sale on the basis of a prescription or under the control of unpaid healthcare workers, and which is based on its ethical principles.
APME has 27 members, which cover an estimated 90% of the turnover of the Estonian pharmaceutical market. APME is a member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) and a member of the The Estonian Employers’ Confederation, the latter also has a health working group.
The APME representative is involved as a members of the Advisory Board of the Estonian Stockpiling Agency concerning health care stock of the most commonly used medicines. APME representative is also involved as member of the Advisory Committee of the Board of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund. On 12-th of October 2016 APME established together with its partners the Estonian Medicines Verification Organization (REKSA). REKSA’s task was to develop a technological solution for identifying counterfeit medicines and to interface it with the European central data processing system – HUB. APME representatives successfully participate in the work of the REKSA Council and in various working groups, whose task is to monitor the requirements of the Counterfeit Medicines Directive and the operation of the system, as well as making the necessary management decisions.
The main goal of APME is to represent and protect the common interests of the members of the Assosiation, which are represented in state bodies and in front of the public, to express views on the draft legislation concerning the health sector and to make proposals for the direction of medicine and to advise the members of the Association.
The main priority of APME is to improve the availability of medicines for patients. In order to fulfill this goal, several round tables have been organized, legal regulations have been analyzed and proposals have been made to the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health InsuranceFund, the Parliament Social Committee and other partner organizations.
Cooperation with the Health Insurance Fund, State Agency of Medicines and the Ministry of Social Affairs is regular. Cooperation is also carried out with various patient representative organizations in order to improve health awareness. In its activities, the Association adheres to the legislation in force, the Association’s statutes, the decisions of the General Assembly and the Council, the Ethics Code of the Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers on sales promotion of prescription medicines and cooperation with healthcare workers and the Association’s strategy. The representatives of the interests and needs of the members of the Association are formed in the working groups that meet regularly: Estonian pharmaceutical manufacturers, Baltic digital, market access, medical (including clinical trials and RWD subgroup), regulatory, oncology,cardiovascular diseases, patient cooperation and good practices working groups. An Ethics Committee has been established at APME, which consists of 5 members, 3 of them are non-related members with voting rights and 2 are representatives of pharmaceutical manufacturers without voting rights.
The highest body of the Association is the General Assembly which meets at least twice a year.
APME (MTÜ Ravimitootjate Liit) has been registered in the Estonian non-profit associations and foundations register under registry code 80004437.