Nordic cooperation

The Nordic countries face many of the same challenges: increasing supply shortages and rising expenditure on medicines due to demographic developments as well as new—and often costly—treatment options. At the same time, each Nordic country represents a relatively small market, which is often less attractive to the pharmaceutical industry than larger markets. For this reason, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland have established the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum.

Amgros collaborates with a wide range of countries and international organisations, including the EU and WHO. Our most developed collaboration is with the Nordic countries through the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum.

Since 2015, the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum has worked to ensure the supply of medicines to patients at public hospitals in the five Nordic countries.
SEVEN AREAS OF COOPERATION
The collaboration within the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum focuses on sharing knowledge and developing joint Nordic solutions. The cooperation is based on the principles of voluntariness, consensus, shared responsibility, and joint financing.

So far, we collaborate across seven areas, where the exchange of experience and mutual inspiration are key driving forces:
  • Horizon Scanning
  • Supply security – strategic
  • Supply security - operational
  • New, high-cost medicines
  • Manufacturing
  • Sustainability
  • Joint Nordic tenders
In some areas, the collaboration is still under development, while in others it is concrete and action-oriented.

Individual countries only participate in the projects that are relevant to them.
POLITICAL AGREEMENT
To strengthen the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum, Norway and Denmark entered into a political agreement in September 2018 to enhance cooperation. The agreement encourages the two organisations to make use of the opportunity to conduct joint tenders and price negotiations for selected medicines. You can read about the memorandum of understanding between Denmark and Norway here (in Danish)

Iceland joined the agreement in 2019.
JOINT NORDIC STRATEGY FOR MEDICINES
In April 2023, the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum launched a joint strategy that sets the direction for cooperation between the Nordic countries’ procurement organisations for medicines.
The strategy focuses on three areas:
  • Innovative procurement collaboration
  • Secure supply
  • A strong Nordic voice
Read the full strategy here.

 

RESULTS
The Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum is considered best practice in Europe when it comes to cross-national tendering of medicines - and for good reason.
  • Since 2020, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland have conducted joint tenders for selected supply-critical medicines, and since 2022, they have incorporated joint environmental criteria into these tenders.
  • We have received bids for all medicines included in the joint Nordic tenders
  • Most joint tenders have seen significant competition—that is, several bidders have submitted offers for the same medicine
  • Iceland has experienced significantly lower prices and gained access to medicines that were not previously available on the market
  • The risk of supply shortages has been reduced by having multiple suppliers participating in the tendering process
ORGANISATION
The Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum is organised with a steering committee, consisting of representatives from each country, and seven working groups that focus on the priority areas.

The steering committee includes representatives from each country as well as a coordinator. Denmark holds the chairmanship.

Read more about the  Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum (NFL) here. 

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Nordic cooperation

National cooperation

Amgros plays an active role in developing the healthcare system. We forge cooperation with and between all parties who help ensure that hospitals have the right pharmaceuticals, hearing aids and medical devices available to treat patients at public hospitals.

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Nordic cooperation

International cooperation

In a global pharmaceutical market, we must take an international perspective to ensure that Danish hospital patients have access to medicine. Therefore, Amgros has a vision to be internationally recognized as a role model in supplying the healthcare system of the future.

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Contact

Rasmus Syberg Hazelton

Team lead

I’m responsible for Amgros’ international work. I also help with strategic advice on political issues, and I’m responsible for coordinating management support at Amgros.

+45 35293927
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