As part of CNE Health's continuing survey of European healthcare systems, Dr Jorge Mestre-Ferrandiz will speak at a lunchtime seminar on recent developments in the Spanish health system - reforms, problems and solutions.

Dr. Jorge Mestre-Ferrandiz joined the Office of Health Economics in October 2001 as an industrial economics researcher. His current research focus is the analysis of European pricing and reimbursement systems and has contributed to the ABPI / Department of Health PPRS competition studies.

Prior to joining the OHE Jorge conducted research for the Economics Advisory Group (now Beaufort International Ltd) to provide an in-depth understanding of how to introduce new hospital drugs for Multiple Sclerosis and Crohn's Disease into the Spanish market.

He completed his doctorate thesis "Essays on the Pharmaceutical Industry" at Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (Spain) in January 2002. Whilst studying for his PhD he won the third student prize at the 2nd World Conference of the International Health Economics Association, for the "The Impact of Generic Goods in the Pharmaceutical Industry".