Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus had access to 66 of 168 innovative medicinal treatments approved by EU authorities from 2021 to 2024, according to a survey by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, or Efpia. The survey said the island ranked below the EU average in availability but slightly better than average in time to market.
Availability of new medicines
The Patients Wait (Waiting to Access Innovative Therapies) Indicator found that 168 new medicines became available in the EU and the European Economic Area, covering 36 countries, between 2021 and 2024. Across the EU, the average number of products available was 76, or 45 per cent of the total, while Cyprus recorded 66.
Time to availability
The survey defined time to availability as the number of days between marketing authorisation and the date medicines became available to patients. Across the 36 countries, the median time to availability was 532 days, ranging from 56 days in Germany to 1,201 days in Romania. In Cyprus, the figure was 416 days.
Cancer treatments
For cancer treatments, 32 of the 56 approved products were available in Cyprus, the survey said.
Industry reaction
The Cyprus Association of Research and Development Pharmaceutical Companies, or Kefea, said the island ranked 21st out of the 36 countries surveyed.