Organized by: Aspen Institute Romania

2024 Edition Program Partners: Roche, Alliance Healthcare, Sanofi, Astra Zeneca, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Bristol Myers Squibb, AbbVie, Medtronic, Novartis

Aspen Healthcare Summit 2024 Supporter: F.M. Medident

Institutional Partners: Ministry of Health, National Health Insurance House, National Institute of Health Services Management

Knowledge Partner: Renașterea Foundation

Media Partner: DC Media Group

Aspen Healthcare Summit, at the thirteenth edition in 2024, is the major public event of Aspen Institute Romania’s Healthcare & Quality of Life Program, bringing together decision-makers, renowned specialists and researchers from the medical sector, European and national healthcare experts, representatives of non-governmental organizations and academia, representatives of health technology and pharmaceutical sector, as well as industry leaders engaged in developing health policies. Last years’ editions contributed to setting up a program community and an agenda of thematic priorities in convergence with national priorities and advanced technological solutions as well as the EU regulatory framework and WHO goals.

In line with the priorities of the Aspen Healthcare & Quality of Life Program, this year’s edition will focus on the economic benefits generated by investments in the public health system, looking in particular at the need to finance both universal healthcare and innovation in the context of limited resources. Thus, the main goal will be to debate, in a high-level, multi-stakeholder setting, financing priorities in the context of an increasing demand. The Summit will further discuss prevention as a main pillar of the healthcare system, with key benefits in terms of life expectancy and quality of life as well as a significant decrease in healthcare costs. Main topics addressed by the Summit will include improving access to medicines and medical services, developing the pharmaceutical industry in Romania, and increasing Romania’s capacity for clinical research.

 

Agenda

 

October 1st

16:30 – 17:00     Participants’ Registration & Welcome Coffee 

17:00 – 17:05    Welcome Remarks

  • Iulian Trandafir – Member of the Board of Trustees, Aspen Institute Romania 

17:05 – 18:00     Preventive Medicine and New Technologies in Health                        

In the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, preventive medicine has emerged as a cornerstone for reducing the burden of chronic diseases, improving population health, and promoting longevity. This panel will explore how cutting-edge technologies—such as artificial intelligence (AI), wearable devices, telemedicine, and genomics—are transforming preventive care and their implementation in Romania. Experts in public health and technology will discuss how these innovations enable earlier detection of health risks, personalized interventions, and continuous health monitoring. Furthermore, the panel will also address the creation of a robust clinical research ecosystem in Romania, with a focus on capacity building, regulatory alignment, and attracting global clinical trials, outlined in the recently launched National Plan for Clinical Trials.

  • Diana Loreta Păun – Presidential Adviser, Department of Public Health, Presidential Administration
  • László Attila – Secretary, Committee for Health, Senate, Parliament of Romania
  • Nikola Dabic – Senior Country Manager Romania and Moldova, Medtronic
  • Ștefan Strilciuc – Director, Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy „Iuliu Hațieganu” / Aspen Fellow
  • George Haber – Entrepreneur, AI Expert

Moderator: Teodor Blidaru – Coordinator, National Health Innovation Hub / Aspen Fellow

18:00   Cocktail & Networking Reception


October 2nd

08:30 – 09:00   Registration & Welcome Coffee 

09:00 – 09:05   Introductory Remarks

  • Alexandra Gătej – Vicepresident, Aspen Institute Romania

09:05 – 09:25   Presentation of the GLOBSEC Healthcare Readiness Index

  • Martin Smatana– GLOBSEC Research Fellow

09:25 – 09:35    Presentation: Romania’s healthcare system – closing the gap using new technology

  • Mihaela Geoană – Founder and President, Renaşterea Foundation

09:35 – 11:00   Financing Universal Healthcare – Setting Priorities in a Context of Increasing Demand 

The panel will focus on the need of the Romanian health system to finance both universal healthcare and innovation while disposing of limited resources. What should the financing priorities be in the near and mid-term future in the context of an increasing demand? This panel aims to provide an objective mapping of the system’s needs in order to draw conclusions for financing priorities such as innovation, prevention, primary care or healthcare infrastructure.

  • Alin Marius Andrieș – Secretary of State, Ministry of Finance
  • Larisa Mezinu-Bălan – Vicepresident, National Health Insurance House
  • Malina Müller – Head of Health Economics, WifOR Institute
  • Iulian Trandafir – VP, Regional General Director for Romania, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Alliance Healthcare / Board Member, Aspen Institute Romania
  • Marcelo Pascual Morales – Managing Director, MSD Romania & Republic of Moldova
  • Marcelo Rainer – Country President & General Manager, Novartis Romania

Moderator: Cristian Vlădescu – Director General, National Institute of Health Service Management / Senior Fellow, Aspen Healthcare & Quality of Life Program

11:00 – 11:20   Conversation – Migration and Health Workforce Updates and Trends

This conversation will analyze current trends in healthcare professional migration, its implications for Romania’s healthcare system, and strategies to mitigate workforce shortages. The focus will be on government policies and initiatives aimed at improving working conditions, training, and career development to retain healthcare professionals in Romania.

  • Dragoș Garofil – Honorary Advisor, Ministry of Health 

Moderator: Teodor Blidaru – Coordinator, National Health Innovation Hub / Aspen Fellow

11:20 – 11:50   Coffee Break

11:50 – 12:10   Conversation – The Challenges of Fighting Addiction in a Multistakeholder Environment

This discussion aims to explore the importance of collaboration between various professionals in providing holistic and effective care for individuals struggling with addiction, discussing the complexities of coordinating efforts among healthcare providers, policymakers, and community organizations to address the social, psychological, and medical aspects of addiction.

  • Eugen Hriscu – Psychotherapist, Psychiatrist, Specialist in addiction medicine / Aspen Alumnus

Moderator: Teodor Blidaru – Coordinator, National Health Innovation Hub / Aspen Fellow

12:10 – 13:15   Developing the Pharmaceutical Industry in Romania (stimulating investments in Romania, increasing patients’ access to medicines)

This panel will analyze strategies to attract and increase investments in Romania’s pharmaceutical sector, focusing on policy incentives, regulatory support, and the role of international partnerships and initiatives. Another key topic will be approaches to improving access to medicines in Romania, including pricing strategies and public-private partnerships. The panel will further look at key performance indicators that can be used to measure the success of pharmaceutical companies in Romania, with a focus on R&D productivity, market share, and patient outcomes.

  • Răzvan Prisada – President, ANMDM
  • Radu Gănescu – President, COPAC
  • Frank Loeffler – General Manager, Roche Romania
  • Adrian Bot – Founding Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President of R&D, Capstan Therapeutics (online)

Moderator: Ștefan Strilciuc – Director, Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy „Iuliu Hațieganu” / Aspen Fellow

13:15 – 14:30   Networking Lunch