IFET: Importing 850 New Medicines Not Available in Greece

The Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Technology (IFET) aims to reduce drug shortages and ensure patient access to treatments not available in Greece. IFET is importing 850 new medicines, mainly for rare diseases.

IFET's CEO, Eleftheria Tokatlidi, stated that drug shortages have significantly decreased. IFET has imported 219 new medicines in the last two years, including 160 new therapies approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In 2025, emergency import orders for medicines doubled compared to 2024. 69% of the medicines distributed by IFET in 2024 were orphan drugs, worth €280 million.

IFET aims to eliminate drug shortages, provide faster access to new therapies, and strengthen its digital infrastructure. It is also planning a new digital platform to inform patients about the progress of their prescriptions.