Whilst innovation in medical science is moving fast, access to new treatments across Europe is not keeping pace. The latest EFPIA Patients W.A.I.T. Indicator 2024 Survey yet again paints a concerning picture that for too many patients, the wait for potentially life-changing treatment continues.
Each year this report provides critical insight into the experiences of patients and health systems across Europe. It shows where progress has occurred and where disparities remain. Four years after the first data were published, there is little to celebrate.
The 2024 data show, disappointingly, that the average time for a new medicine to reach European patients is now 578 days, more than a month longer than in 2023.¹ Full availability remains at only 29 percent, while the proportion of medicines unavailable has grown from 46 percent in 2019 to 48 percent in 2024.¹
And, like last year, the data are stark when you look at how availability varies across Europe.
In some countries, patients can access treatment within months. In others, it takes over two years. For example, patients in Germany wait an average of 128 days to access new medicines, compared to a staggering 828 days for patients in Romania.
What is the impact? Put plainly, it means that where you live in Europe determines your chances of accessing new medicines, with Southern and Eastern Europe continuing to lag behind their neighbours in North and West Europe.
We see a similar pattern in oncology. Only 50 percent of new cancer medicines are fully available to European patients upon regulatory approval (down from 52%),¹ and the average time it takes for cancer medicines to become available continues to rise, with patients now waiting 33 days longer than in 2023 and 66 days longer than in 2022.
People living with cancer don’t have time to wait and with the European cancer burden set to increase by 38% by 2040 the issue is urgent
People living with cancer don’t have time to wait and with the European cancer burden set to increase by 38% by 2040 the issue is urgent.2 Scientific breakthroughs can only make a difference to peoples’ lives when systems are ready to deliver them through timely diagnostics, specialist capacity and infrastructure, and responsive reimbursement.
The root causes of medicines access challenges are complex and multifaceted, varying significantly between individual countries. EFPIA's new Smaller Markets Report sheds light on the unique challenges faced by countries with more limited capacity and resources. Many encounter well-known constraints, from staffing and budget shortages to complex pricing and reimbursement structures.3 However, there are also examples of focused reforms making real differences, such as Slovenia boosting staffing at its Health Insurance Institute to reduce backlogs and Croatia improving timelines with agility and commitment.3
What is clear is that every health system is unique and a one-size-fits-all legislative approach is unlikely to be the solution. Instead, structured, collaborative dialogue at the national level supported by local partnerships is needed. The W.A.I.T. Indicator provides a strong foundation for these conversations. With transparent, comparable data, we can focus on where progress is needed and scale what is already working. For smaller markets in particular, consistency and collaboration are vital.
This is an approach Pfizer has championed, working closely with policymakers, payers, and other stakeholders to develop tailored, sustainable solutions by country. For example, in Romania - a country that has historically struggled with access issues - we have seen positive steps taken through the National Cancer Plan. This initiative provides free healthcare services, including prevention, diagnosis and treatment, for uninsured individuals. While not a comprehensive solution, it demonstrates how targeted, multi-stakeholder efforts can make a real difference in improving access for patients.
Access to innovation should not depend on geography. Tailored, country-specific approaches are essential to meet the diverse needs of European healthcare systems alongside continued investment in healthcare infrastructure and consistent collaboration to ensure breakthrough treatments reach patients when they are needed most.
At Pfizer, we are committed not only to advancing innovation, but to ensuring that it delivers meaningful results for patients. By working together, we can make availability of innovation more equitable, more efficient, and more aligned to the ambition of delivering better outcomes for populations across Europe.
Massimo Visentin is Regional President of the Eastern Europe Cluster at Pfizer, where he leads efforts to improve access to medicines across diverse healthcare systems in the region. He is a passionate advocate for equitable access to innovation across all EU member states.
References
¹ EFPIA Patients W.A.I.T. Indicator 2024 Survey: EFPIA.eu
² European Commission. Cancer in 2040: Estimates for an ageing Europe. May 2023 ECIR-inequalities-factsheet-2040-cancer-estimates-May-2023.pdf
3 EFPIA. (2025, May). The root causes of unavailability and delay to innovative medicines in smaller EU markets: Reducing the time before patients have access to innovative medicines. https://www.efpia.eu/media/olabqd20/cra-efpia-root-causes-of-unavailability-and-delay-in-smaller-markets-2025-report-final-8-may-2025-stc.pdf
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