Why Collaboration is No Longer Optional

In collaboration with SME Connect
logo-sme connect
supported by EFPIA

invite-only event

HCI POLICY DIALOGUE 2026

Why Collaboration is No Longer Optional

Building Bridges for a More Resilient European Healthcare System
European Parliament, Brussels

14 October 2026

17:00 – 20:30

Despite major European reforms to strengthen preparedness and resilience and despite European efforts to mitigate supply chain
vulnerabilities, medicine and medical device shortages continue to affect Member States. As the implementation of the Critical Medicines
framework and of broader EU resilience initiatives advance, a central question emerges:
How can Europe strengthen healthcare resilience through better coordination across the entire value chain — and address
fragmentation, distortion and unsustainable cost?

Building Bridges for a More Resilient European Healthcare System
PROGRAMME
17:00 Arrival & Welcome Reception
17:15 Formal Opening -Welcome HCI + MEP Tomislav Sokol
18:00 Panel 1: "Where does resilience break today?"
18:30 Panel 2: "Are stockpiling and procurement strengthening resilience - or distorting it?"
19:00 Panel 3: "What does a resilient system look like - and what do we commit to?"
19:30 Wrap-up & Closing Commitments
19:45 Networking Reception

MODERATORS

Annabel Seebohm | CEO Health4.EU | HCI Advisory Board
Christa Wirthumer-Hoche | Senior Regulatory Expert | HCI Advisory
Board

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

MEPS

Tomislav Sokol | MEP | Hosting Member of the European
Parliament

EU INSTITUTIONS

Agnès Mathieu-Mendes | EC, Head of Unit Medical Products,
Quality, Safety, Innovation, DG SANTE
Emer Cooke | Executive Director | EMA
Laurent Muschel | EC, Deputy Director General, DG HERA
Monica Dias | Head of Supply and Availability of Medicines
and Medical Devices | EMA

NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS & REGULATORY AUTHORITIES

Gloria Ghéquière | Adviser, Cabinet of Deputy PM and
Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Frank Vandenbroucke
María Jesús Lamas Díaz | Director, AEMPS | Chair, HMA
Management Group | Member, EMA Management Board

INDUSTRY

Adrian van den Hoven | Director General | Medicines for
Europe
Nathalie Moll | Director General | EFPIA
Oliver Bisazza | Director General | MedTech Europe
Marco Farinelli | AstraZeneca | Chair, EFPIA Supply Chain
WG
Maurice Dantès | Pharma Logistic Austria
Matthias Heck | Senior Advisor Strategic Alliance
Development | EUCOPE

HEALTHCARE & PATIENTS

Ilaria Passarani | Secretary General | PGEU
Yannis Natsis | Director | ESIP
Sarada Das | Secretary General | CPME

PROGRAMME

17:00
30 min

Arrival & Welcome Reception

Guests arrive and are welcomed. Informal networking before the programme begins.

17:15

Formal Opening

HCI Welcome + MEP Tomislav Sokol — opening remarks

18:00
100 min
18:00
18:30
19:00

Policy Dialogue — Three Panels

One Policy Dialogue structured into three thematic panels of 30 minutes each, with a short 2-minute transition between panels.

A different core group of speakers participates in each panel — participants move to the high tables as their panel begins.
No lectern, no slides. Speakers standing around high tables in a semi-circle.
Same format throughout: framing by moderator.
3–4 targeted responses · brief open reactions · moderator synthesis.

Panel 1 — Where does resilience break today? (30 min)
Panel 2 — Are stockpiling and procurement strengthening resilience — or distorting it? (30 min)
Panel 3 — What does a resilient healthcare system look like, and what do we commit to? (30 min)
19:30
20 min

Wrap-up & Closing Commitments

Moderators draw three conclusions from the evening — naming unresolved tensions and areas of agreement.
Each stakeholder group names one concrete action before the next HCI event — by person, not by sector.
HCI closes formally.

19:45
open

Networking Reception

Drinks and finger food.