There were many good reasons why the pharmaceutical organizations in the Nordic countries took the initiative back in 2015 to establish the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum. All countries were facing rising medicine expenditures, driven by new treatment options and an aging population. Added to this were growing challenges in securing the supply of medicines in an increasingly globalized pharmaceutical market.
- It was our shared assessment that the best way to meet these many challenges was through collaboration. And I think we’ve succeeded. In fact, so well that we may be able to call the Nordics the most integrated pharmaceutical region in the EU. That’s something we can be proud of. Because ultimately, it’s the patients in the Nordic countries who benefit, says Flemming Sonne, CEO of Amgros and Chair of the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum.
Over the years, it has become increasingly difficult for small markets like the Nordic countries to ensure access to medicines – especially at reasonable prices. The Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum has therefore continuously worked to make the Nordic markets more attractive.
- One of the greatest successes of the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum is our joint Nordic tenders. We are probably the first in the world to continuously succeed in conducting joint tenders across borders. When we assess the outcomes today, we see improved access to medicines that were previously unregistered in Iceland, better supply security, and better prices. This underlines part of the value of our cooperation, says Hulda Harðardóttir, Head of the Procurement Department at Landspítali University Hospital, Iceland.
Another key focus area for the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum has been collaboration on new, often promising and expensive medicines – including Horizon Scanning and joint negotiations.
- We all benefit greatly from Horizon Scanning and from sharing knowledge about which medicines are coming to market – and discussing how we should handle them. We’ve already conducted two joint negotiations, and with the new shared guidelines, we can likely look forward to even more, says Mikael Svensson, Coordinator negotiations, Regional cooperation model for pharmaceuticals, Sweden.
The collaboration in the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum is not only about prices, availability, and secure supply. Sustainability – especially in relation to medicine procurement – is also a key part of the cooperation.
- In the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum, we’ve been good at sharing knowledge about how each of us works with the sustainability agenda and how we can develop joint solutions. That’s something we must continue. The Nordics also have experiences that are relevant to the rest of Europe – for example, in ensuring more sustainable procurement, says Kerstin Carlsson, Director, HUS Pharmacy, HUS Group, the joint authority for Helsinki and Uusimaa in Finland.
The five Nordic countries have different legislation and structures in the pharmaceutical field. Naturally, this has posed some challenges for the NLF collaboration. But the will to succeed has always been present. That’s why NLF can now look back on a series of impressive results: five years of joint Nordic tenders, collaboration on standard terms for advanced therapies (ATMPs), and harmonization of environmental criteria.
These achievements have not gone unnoticed – even outside the Nordics.
The Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum has a strong voice in the EU on pharmaceutical matters. And I believe that’s well deserved. Our collaboration and results are inspiring – and they come with responsibility. That’s why it’s been natural for the NLF to actively participate in EU initiatives like the Critical Medicines Alliance. It has allowed us to contribute with our insights and input on how regional joint procurement can help ensure better supply security in Europe, says Tommy Juhl Nielsen, Director of the Pharma Division at Sykehusinnkjøp.
The Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum is built on voluntarism, consensus, and shared responsibility across countries. For the past 10 years, the collaboration has focused on sharing knowledge, identifying opportunities, and developing new joint Nordic solutions. It’s a collaboration that all NLF participants remain committed to and will continue to support.
- If we thought the challenges were significant when we decided to establish NLF ten years ago, they certainly haven’t diminished. Since then, we’ve seen war on the continent and a new normal in how the world collaborates and trades. The time for cooperation and joint solutions is more urgent than ever, says Flemming Sonne.
The Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum celebrates its 10-year anniversary on 9 September 2025 – in Copenhagen, where it all began.
Read more about the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum on Amgros' website here and on the website of Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum here
Members of the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum include:
• Amgros I/S, Denmark – the central procurement organization for hospital medicines
• Sykehusinnkjøp HF, Norway – the central procurement organization for, among other things, hospital medicines
• Norwegian Medical Products Agency
• Landspítali, Iceland
• Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR)
• HUS Pharmacy, HUS Group – the joint authority for Helsinki and Uusimaa, Finland
• Danish Medicines Council
ATMP stands for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products.