Building links with Government and NHS
The establishment of the ABPI Cymru Wales office in Cardiff in 2003 is intended to build on the achievements of the ABPI Cymru Wales Industry Group in its good relations with the Welsh Assembly Government and the NHS in Wales. The industry has been involved in the planning, establishment and implementation of a range of National Service Frameworks (NSFs), such as the Diabetes NSF Implementation Roadshows, which attracted 700 attendees to six different venues in Wales. In the field of respiratory disease, an industry staff member has been seconded to the Welsh Assembly in order to progress the planned NSF for Respiratory Disease.

The importance and role of the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG), with key industry representation, continues to grow. It has been responsible for the newly established Therapeutic Development Appraisal (TDA) process in Wales. ABPI Cymru Wales has established a TDA User Group to promote the process, to include representatives of the NICE User Group and locally based ABPI Cymru Wales Industry Group members. The NHS Industry Forum, with five representatives from ABPI member companies, provides opinion, feedback and information to the AWMSG. In particular, the Forum has drafted a document outlining guidance for partnership working between the industry and NHS Wales. This document aims to provided an open and transparent approach to existing and future industry initiatives in Wales.

Further involvement in the provision of health care information include the essential partnership role played by ABPI Cymru Wales in the Ask About Medicines Week initiative and its sponsorship of Welsh Language in Healthcare Awards. The inaugural ABPI Cymru Wales Annual Lecture was given by Professor Stuart Woodhead; entitled Mission Impossible? The Third Mission in Healthcare Education, his talk explored the entrepreneurial aspects of academia.