Health Means Wealth
Health Means Wealth

Health is not just a matter for the healthcare sector. It is a fundamental prerequisite for the Czech Republic’s prosperity and competitiveness. A healthy population is essential for any economic growth. And health is an investment in our shared future, not merely an item in the public budget.


The Health Means Wealth conference will launch an expert discussion on the global trends that are transforming health and social care systems, and on the challenges these systems must address. It will focus on why we need to seek comprehensive, data-driven solutions and what role health innovations can play in them.


The event is organised by the Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical Industry (AIFP). The AIFP brings together 35 innovative pharmaceutical companies that invest in the research and development of new medicines to meet the needs of patients worldwide. The AIFP’s aim is to ensure that the latest treatments are widely and promptly available to Czech patients.

Who will be speaking

The conference will bring together leading figures from public administration, the economy, patient organisations and industry. Among those sharing their views will be Health Minister Adam Vojtěch, Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Jan Sechter, economist Petr Bartoň and Stefan Oelrich, President of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA).


Auspices

The inter-ministerial significance of the topic is underlined by the auspices of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Andrej Babiš. The conference is also held under the auspices of the Minister of Health, Adam Vojtěch.

Auspices of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
Auspices of the Minister of Health

Innovation is an investment in societal resilience, economic growth, and the long-term sustainability of public finances.


Why attend

Join us and gain clear insights into the questions that will shape the future of Czech healthcare, the economy, and society.

• How are geopolitical shifts shaping health policy in Europe?

How can Europe respond to demographic change, declining investment, and growing global competition? And what do these trends mean for healthcare, innovation, and industry?


• Can health innovation help reverse negative trends?

The benefits of innovation extend far beyond healthcare itself. They contribute to better population health, higher productivity, a more resilient economy, and long-term societal prosperity.


• What is the cost of a low-cost policy?

What are the consequences of measures focused solely on cost containment, and where does a truly sustainable approach to healthcare begin?


• How will today’s decisions shape the future of Czech healthcare?

Is the current system sustainable in the long term? And why will it become increasingly important to create an environment that supports both innovation and access to modern treatments?


Programme

11:30 - 12:00
Registration and Light Lunch
12:00 - 12:40
Opening & Keynote Speeches
12:40 - 13:40
Panel on the Geopolitical Context of Health Innovations
  • Adam Vojtěch, Czech Minister of Health
  • Jan Sechter, Czech Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade
  • Stefan Oelrich, EFPIA Board President, Bayer
  • Petr Bartoň, Chief Economist, NATLAND Group
  • Representative of the Danish Government
13:40 - 14:10
Coffee Break
14:10 - 14:25
Keynote Speech
14:25 - 14:45
Presentation I

Aleš Rod, Executive Director, Center for Economic and Market Analysis

14:45 - 15:05
Presentation II

Ladislav Dušek, Director, Institute of Health Information and Statistics

15:05 - 16:05
Panel on Socioeconomic Impacts of Health Innovations
  • Tomáš Prouza, Vicepresident, Czech Chamber of Commerce
  • Anna Arellanesová, Chair, Rare Disases Czech Republic
  • Representative of the Czech Government
  • Representative of the Swedish Government
16:05 - 16:20
Closing Remarks

David Kolář, Executive Director, AIFP

16:20 - 17:00
Networking

Speakers

Adam Vojtěch

Adam Vojtěch

Minister of Health of the Czech Republic

Adam Vojtěch has been Minister of Health of the Czech Republic since December 2025, having previously led the ministry from 2017 to 2021. He studied law and media studies at Charles University and spent a year at University College Dublin. He began his career as an in-house lawyer at Mafra, then joined the Ministry of Finance, focusing on healthcare regulation and financing and the oversight of health insurers. As minister, he introduced e-prescriptions and reforms of primary and mental health care. From 2022 he headed the Czech Embassy in Helsinki and in October 2025 was re-elected to the Chamber of Deputies.

Stefan Oelrich

Stefan Oelrich

President of EFPIA, Board Member of Bayer AG & President of Pharmaceuticals

Stefan Oelrich is a member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and President of its Pharmaceuticals Division, based in Berlin. Appointed in 2018, he has led a transformation of the division, focusing on healthcare innovation. He first joined Bayer in 1989, holding senior leadership roles in Latin America, Europe and the United States. He later spent seven years at Sanofi, leading its German-speaking region before building its diabetes and cardiovascular business and joining its Executive Committee in 2016. He has sat on the Supervisory Board of Charité since 2020 and has been President of EFPIA since June 2025.

Jan Sechter

Jan Sechter

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic

Jan Sechter has been Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade since 2026. He studied economics at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague and attended the German Foreign Office’s Diplomatic Academy. A career diplomat, he was Deputy Head of Mission in Germany and Ambassador to Poland and Austria (2008–2017). He later advised the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, served as Deputy Minister of Transport (2020–2022) and was the government coordinator for the Three Seas Initiative. He chaired the Transport Section of the Czech Chamber of Commerce and worked for Primoco UAV and the Central European Industry Partners fund.

Tomáš Prouza

Tomáš Prouza

Vice-President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce

Since 2020, he has been working at the Chamber of Commerce, where he serves as Vice-President. His term of office was most recently confirmed by the Chamber's Assembly in April 2026. He has been President of the Czech Confederation of Commerce and Tourism since October 2018 and Vice-President of the European trade association EuroCommerce since 2019. Between 2004 and 2006, he served as Deputy Minister of Finance. He subsequently worked in the banking sector and as an expert for the World Bank. Between 2014 and 2017, he was State Secretary for European Affairs and Coordinator of the Czech Republic's Digital Agenda. His areas of focus include the business environment, trade, the labour market, European policy and healthcare funding.

Anna Arellanesová

Anna Arellanesová

Chair of the Rare Diseases & EURORDIS Board Member

Anna Arellanesová has been Chair of the Rare Diseases Czech Republic, an umbrella organisation for patient organisations focused on rare diseases, since 2014. She is also a committee member and former Chair of the Czech Cystic Fibrosis Association. She served two terms as Vice-Chair of the Minister of Health’s Patient Council, where she continues to represent rare diseases as a member. She also sits on the Board of Directors of EURORDIS, the European umbrella patient organisation. She contributed to drafting new legislation on the reimbursement approval system for medicinal products for rare diseases, which provides for the active participation of patients as decision-making stakeholders. She is also a member of the Interministerial Commission for Rare Diseases at the Ministry of Health. Through long-term cooperation with experts, she helped prepare and continues to implement the National Strategy for Rare Diseases and its follow-up implementation plans.

David Kolář

David Kolář

Executive Director of the Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical Industry

David Kolář is Executive Director of the Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical Industry (AIFP), where he has worked for more than ten years. Appointed to the role in 2022, he is responsible chiefly for the association’s strategic management, development activities and the delivery of its goals. He has long focused on access to modern treatment, medicines policy and reimbursement of innovative therapies, promoting cooperation between the state, health insurers, patient organisations and the pharmaceutical industry. He also contributes to strategic discussions on the future of healthcare funding, the digitalisation of the system and the development of innovation in Czech healthcare.


Venue

Bohemia Pavilion, Výstaviště Praha


Registration

First name
Last name
Email

Contact

Jakub Nikl

Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical Industry

jakub.nikl@aifp.cz

+420 731 821 263

Health Means Wealth

Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical Industry, aifp.cz