Key priorities

Education

The Life Science industry is a key driver of the Danish economy. To realise its full potential, access to highly qualified talent is essential.

This not only supports economic growth but also enables innovation in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biotechnology.

We work for:

• Education programmes that match the industry’s competence needs in both quality and capacity

• Continuous professional development and lifelong learning

• Strong AI competencies among Life Science specialists

Equality and diversity

We are not yet where we need to be when it comes to equality.

Not all talents are equally represented in leadership and boardrooms, and there is still a gender pay gap among our members. We also see challenges related to discrimination, including among ethnic minorities, which must be addressed to ensure a sustainable working life for all.

We work for:

• Equal access to education and the labour market without discrimination

• More balanced gender representation in leadership and boards

• Workplace policies that support flexible career paths across life stages

• Greater salary transparency to help close the gender pay gap

• Reducing bias in recruitment processes across the Life Science industry

International workforce

Attracting and retaining international talent and students is crucial for the Danish Life Science industry.

Today, international professionals make up 17% of the workforce, and demand is expected to grow.

We work for:

• Inclusive study environments for all students

• Stronger integration of international talent into the Danish labour market

• Smoother transitions from education to employment for both Danish and international students

Authorisation of pharmacists

Historically, pharmacists’ roles were not patient-facing and therefore did not require healthcare authorisation.

Today, this has changed significantly. Pharmacists increasingly work directly with patients in municipalities, regions, and community pharmacies, and the lack of authorisation is becoming a challenge.

This affects patient safety, creates uncertainty around professional responsibilities, complicates access to data, and limits effective collaboration with other healthcare professionals.

We therefore work to ensure that pharmacists in patient-facing roles are granted formal authorisation.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major societal challenge affecting many of our members – particularly those working in research, development, production, and patient care.

The lack of effective antibiotics is a critical concern for both patients and healthcare professionals.

We work for:

• Raising awareness of AMR at both public and political levels

• Increased use of vaccination to reduce antibiotic consumption

• Development and optimisation of diagnostic methods for appropriate antibiotic use

• New funding and payment models to support research and development of antimicrobial medicines

In 2024, Pharmadanmark co-founded the Danish AMR Alliance together with the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Pfizer Denmark. The alliance now includes more than 45 organisations.

Rare diseases

Rare diseases affect small patient populations, making them less commercially attractive and more difficult to research.

This creates challenges in understanding disease progression, conducting clinical trials, and securing funding for research and development.

Ensuring optimal conditions for innovation in diagnostics and treatment is therefore a key priority.

We work for:

• Improved conditions for research, development, and implementation of diagnostics and treatments

• Stronger patient data and better cross-border data access

• Increased public and political focus on rare diseases from patient, healthcare, and industry perspectives