The Payer Exchange

E10: Saudi Arabia - Abdulrazag Al-Jazairi

In the final episode of the series, Omar speaks with Dr Abdulrazag Al-Jazairi, Advisor to the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, about the rapidly evolving payer and HTA environment in Saudi Arabia. They discuss what it means to develop payer infrastructure from the ground up, the influence of international frameworks on domestic decision-making, and how value-based agreements are beginning to play a role in national pricing strategy. Key themes: * HTA system development in Saudi Arabia * Local adaptation of international pricing logic * Role of VBAs in emerging access models About The Payer Exchange The Payer Exchange is a podcast where Omar Ali [https://linkedin.com/in/alipha], Head of Payers at Verpora, sits down with payers from around the world to talk candidly about what’s shaping access, value, and decision-making in their markets.  The series covers a range of consistent themes across markets—such as horizon scanning, indication-based pricing, rare diseases, and system sustainability—while also highlighting country-specific dynamics. By asking the same core questions in each conversation, the podcast reveals both common pressures and contrasting approaches across healthcare systems. The Payer Exchange is designed for professionals working in market access, pricing, policy, and strategy who want a deeper understanding of how payers are approaching the increasingly complex landscape of pharmaceutical innovation. Disclaimer This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as legal or policy advice. All content is based on non-confidential intelligence. Views expressed by the speakers are personal opinions and should not be attributed to anyone else. No part of this presentation may be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express permission of Omar Ali, Verpora Limited.

E9: Belgium - Lieven Annemans

Omar is joined by Professor Lieven Annemans, former chair of Belgium’s health economics advisory committee, to explore the complexities of European HTA policy. They talk about the role of Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA), the risk of over-assessment in policy design, and the challenge of maintaining local relevance within a harmonised EU framework. Lieven brings perspective on how the purpose of assessment is sometimes lost in the process of implementation. Key themes: * Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA) readiness and implications * Local vs EU-level HTA alignment * Over-assessment, duplication, and unintended bureaucracy About The Payer Exchange The Payer Exchange is a podcast where Omar Ali [https://linkedin.com/in/alipha], Head of Payers at Verpora, sits down with payers from around the world to talk candidly about what’s shaping access, value, and decision-making in their markets.  The series covers a range of consistent themes across markets—such as horizon scanning, indication-based pricing, rare diseases, and system sustainability—while also highlighting country-specific dynamics. By asking the same core questions in each conversation, the podcast reveals both common pressures and contrasting approaches across healthcare systems. The Payer Exchange is designed for professionals working in market access, pricing, policy, and strategy who want a deeper understanding of how payers are approaching the increasingly complex landscape of pharmaceutical innovation. Disclaimer This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as legal or policy advice. All content is based on non-confidential intelligence. Views expressed by the speakers are personal opinions and should not be attributed to anyone else. No part of this presentation may be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express permission of Omar Ali, Verpora Limited.

E8: Canada - Don Husereau

In this episode, Omar speaks with Canadian health economist and policy advisor Don Husereau about Canada’s unique payer landscape. Don isn’t your typical policy analyst. He’s worked in HTA, advised governments, and written widely about the gaps, flaws, and hidden logic in pricing systems like Canada’s.  They discuss the decentralised nature of decision-making, the gap between evidence generation and clinical practice, and the disconnect between how healthcare science is developed versus how healthcare systems operate. Don shares his perspective on the pressures facing CADTH and how Canadian policy reflects a deeper tension between idealism and pragmatism. Key themes: * Decentralised payer environment in Canada * Evidence generation vs clinical practice * CADTH’s evolving role and MFN impact About The Payer Exchange The Payer Exchange is a podcast where Omar Ali [https://linkedin.com/in/alipha], Head of Payers at Verpora, sits down with payers from around the world to talk candidly about what’s shaping access, value, and decision-making in their markets.  The series covers a range of consistent themes across markets—such as horizon scanning, indication-based pricing, rare diseases, and system sustainability—while also highlighting country-specific dynamics. By asking the same core questions in each conversation, the podcast reveals both common pressures and contrasting approaches across healthcare systems. The Payer Exchange is designed for professionals working in market access, pricing, policy, and strategy who want a deeper understanding of how payers are approaching the increasingly complex landscape of pharmaceutical innovation. Disclaimer This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as legal or policy advice. All content is based on non-confidential intelligence. Views expressed by the speakers are personal opinions and should not be attributed to anyone else. No part of this presentation may be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express permission of Omar Ali, Verpora Limited.

E7: Poland - Krzysztof Łanda

Omar speaks with Dr Krzysztof Łanda, former Deputy Minister of Health, health economist, and someone who’s helped shape the pricing and HTA landscape in Poland over the past two decades. They examine the influence of external pricing references, the practical realities of MFN implementation, and the state of HTA reform. The discussion also covers the potential role of JCA and how manufacturers can adapt to a system that combines political oversight with economic rigor. Key themes: * External reference pricing and its impact in Poland * MFN price pressure and response * HTA reform and the readiness for JCA About The Payer Exchange The Payer Exchange is a podcast where Omar Ali [https://linkedin.com/in/alipha], Head of Payers at Verpora, sits down with payers from around the world to talk candidly about what’s shaping access, value, and decision-making in their markets.  The series covers a range of consistent themes across markets—such as horizon scanning, indication-based pricing, rare diseases, and system sustainability—while also highlighting country-specific dynamics. By asking the same core questions in each conversation, the podcast reveals both common pressures and contrasting approaches across healthcare systems. The Payer Exchange is designed for professionals working in market access, pricing, policy, and strategy who want a deeper understanding of how payers are approaching the increasingly complex landscape of pharmaceutical innovation. Disclaimer This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as legal or policy advice. All content is based on non-confidential intelligence. Views expressed by the speakers are personal opinions and should not be attributed to anyone else. No part of this presentation may be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express permission of Omar Ali, Verpora Limited.

E6: UK - Yousaf Ahmad

In this opening episode, Omar Ali is joined by Dr Yousaf Ahmad, Chief Pharmacist and Director of Medicines Optimisation at a NHS Integrated Care System. They explore the practical trade-offs being made inside the NHS today: the pressure to find efficiency without losing sight of quality, the reality of navigating oncology value frameworks, and the challenge of ensuring that VBAs work for both payers and manufacturers. The conversation also touches on the UK’s evolving approach to MFN spillover and combination treatments. Key themes: * NHS cost-effectiveness thresholds and their evolution * Practical implementation of VBAs in the NHS * Oncology access and MFN pricing ripple effects About The Payer Exchange The Payer Exchange is a podcast where Omar Ali [https://linkedin.com/in/alipha], Head of Payers at Verpora, sits down with payers from around the world to talk candidly about what’s shaping access, value, and decision-making in their markets.  The series covers a range of consistent themes across markets—such as horizon scanning, indication-based pricing, rare diseases, and system sustainability—while also highlighting country-specific dynamics. By asking the same core questions in each conversation, the podcast reveals both common pressures and contrasting approaches across healthcare systems. The Payer Exchange is designed for professionals working in market access, pricing, policy, and strategy who want a deeper understanding of how payers are approaching the increasingly complex landscape of pharmaceutical innovation. Disclaimer This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as legal or policy advice. All content is based on non-confidential intelligence. Views expressed by the speakers are personal opinions and should not be attributed to anyone else. No part of this presentation may be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express permission of Omar Ali, Verpora Limited.