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Update from the Politico Health Care Summit in Brussels

Published on 21st November 2025

🏛️This week, I attended the Politico Health Care Summit in Brussels, and it felt great to be back in the capital of Europe, my hometown, reconnecting with so many familiar faces 🤝. The discussions were intense and eye-opening, reminding us just how urgent Europe’s situation has become and how many steps we still need to take to stay competitive.

Today, our health systems face mounting pressure:
🌍 climate-driven health threats
⚔️ war at Europe’s doorstep
🌐 geopolitical instability across the Atlantic
📉 rising mental-health issues among children linked to digital overexposure
😴 worsening sleep and burnout among adults

And the challenges don’t stop there: Europe is seeing declining clinical trials, falling investment in healthcare innovation, and long delays in patient access to new medicines.

Expectations are high. Europe is increasingly seen as the actor that must step up, not only for itself, but to safeguard global health at a time when others step back 🌎.

Yet the summit also delivered a welcome dose of optimism ✨.
We do have solutions. Europe has the means, the talent, and the ambition to build a resilient, innovative, patient-centred health system. Germany is showing what’s possible. Prevention works. Incentives work. AI works. But it’s not a black-magic box: we need the right conditions to implement it and fully unlock its potential, just as is already happening in Canada’s healthcare system.

Not everything is as complicated as we think. What we need now is trust, smarter investment, simpler processes, and yes, a bit more funding 💶, because progress comes at a cost and we have seen that the cost of inaction is greater than the cost of action.

Throughout the summit, I engaged with policymakers and industry leaders to demonstrate how Lyfegen’s AI-powered platform can help close the biggest gaps they face:
⚡ accelerating patient access
💸 reducing financial burden for payers
📊 enabling evidence-based decisions with real-world data

I look forward to following up with them, because patients deserve faster access to innovative therapies, and Lyfegen can make a tangible difference today.

⭐A personal highlight was my meeting with Belgium’s Minister of Health, Frank Vandenbroucke. Beyond being incredibly kind; while he was revising his speech, he accepted to have a picture with me and a quick chat 📸. ((A huge thanks to his very kind and talented adviser, Gloria.) Later on, his speech showed a genuine commitment and strong political passion for improving healthcare in Belgium and across Europe.

A challenging moment for Europe, yes. But also a moment full of opportunity, if we choose to act 💡.

#PoliticoHealthCare #Brussels #HealthcareInnovation #MarketAccess #FastAccess #ValueBasedHealthcare #DigitalHealth #AIinHealthcare #HealthData #RealWorldEvidence #HealthPolicy #Networking #EuropeanHealth #HealthTech

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News: Attending the Politico Health Care Summit in Brussels

Published on 13th November 2025

Dear network,

I’m excited to share that I will be attending the POLITICO Health Care Summit next week in Brussels!🏛️💡 I’m looking forward to engaging in insightful discussions on the future of healthcare, 🤝connecting with industry leaders and policy makers and exploring innovative approaches to health policy.

If you’ll be attending as well, please let me know, I’d love to connect or reconnect ;) 😉✨

#HealthPolicy #HealthcareInnovation #PoliticoHealthCareSummit

#Networking #Brussels #Sustainability #AI #GlobalHealth

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Announcement: New collaboration with Lyfegen

Published on 12th November 2025

🎉I’m excited to share a new milestone: I’ve signed a new collaboration with Lyfegen & I will be acting as their Health Policy Advisor.

💻Lyfegen is an independent provider of drug pricing and rebate management solutions designed for the healthcare industry. Its AI-driven platform is used by insurers, government bodies, payers, and pharma companies around the globe to dramatically reduce the administrative burden of managing complex drug pricing agreements & to optimize rebates & get better value from those. Headquartered in Switzerland, the company was founded in 2018 & has market presence in Europe, North America & the Middle East.

📚If you not are not familiar with this: When a new drug is approved, pharma companies must “sell” it to the health authorities of a country, starting a negotiation process. Lyfegen’s solution helps payers & pharma companies design contracts using the Agreements Library - the world’s largest digital repository of innovative drug pricing models and public drug pricing agreements - enabling them to gain visibility, benchmark strategies & anticipate payer expectations.

They can also use the Simulator, a robust tool designed to dynamically simulate complex drug pricing scenarios to understand the full financial impact. Once the contract is agreed, Lyfegen’s tool also helps payers & pharma companies manage these contracts. Many contracts include rebate or discount agreements that take effect after signing. E.g. if more than 5,000 patients are treated within a year, health authority receives a rebate & pays less to the company. Tracking these rebates manually is extremely complex, any human error can result in millions lost for the authorities with negative impact for patients❌.

Lyfegen’s software makes the process faster, more accurate & transparent, meaning budgets can be managed more efficiently 💰 a critical factor in today’s environment where healthcare budgets are constrained & everyone is looking to make savings. This ensures more resources can go to what really matters: 🚀 providing patients with faster, fairer access to innovative treatments💊.

🌐 In today’s digital age, such tools are critical, supporting smarter, data-driven healthcare systems, as promoted by EU Digital Health Strategies 🇪🇺& the WHO Global Strategy on Digital Health 🌍.

🤝In the coming months, I’ll focus on engaging key stakeholders across European markets to promote the benefits of Lyfegen’s innovative solutions for patients and society as a whole🩺

🙏A heartfelt thank you to Girisha Fernando & Michel Mohler for this amazing opportunity. I’m looking forward to our collaboration and to driving impact to help patients gain faster access to innovative treatments globally! 🚀

➡️ If you are interested in Lyfegen’s solution please get in touch📩, I’d be happy to share more details.

Natacha Fovel

#HealthTech #Pharma #HealthcareInnovation #DigitalHealth #DrugPricing #HealthPolicy

#PatientAccess #EUHealth #AI

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Update from the Unite Summit for Women and cardiovascular Health in Dublin

Published on 2nd November 2025

What an inspiring and action-packed event bringing together brilliant minds and changemakers! Here are my key takeaways 👇

❗ Awareness gap:

Nearly 50% of women are unaware that cardiovascular disease (CVD) symptoms differ for women, and most don’t know what those symptoms are such as nausea, dizziness, or jaw pain.

💔 The #1 killer:

1 in 3 women worldwide will die from CVD, the leading cause of death for women. Yet many believe breast cancer is their biggest risk, while it actually ranks fourth.

😔 Bias in diagnosis:

When men and women arrive at the emergency room with chest pain, men are far more likely to be examined for heart disease, while women are often dismissed or told they’re experiencing anxiety or menopause-related symptoms.

👩‍👧‍👦 Clinical trials & drug testing:

Women are underrepresented in clinical trials, partly because work, family, and caregiving leave them little time to participate. As a result, many approved drugs haven’t been properly tested on women yet are still prescribed to them. Since women metabolize medications differently, what’s safe for men can be harmful for women.

🔍 Example: certain oral hormone replacement therapies (HRT) can increase CVD risk in women with pre-existing heart conditions.

🔥 The menopause factor:

From the onset of menopause women face a 50% higher risk of developing CVD. The decline in estrogen removes a vital layer of protection, and this phase represents roughly 30% of a woman’s life.

🚬 Smoking hits women harder:

Because women’s coronary arteries are smaller, smoking just 3 cigarettes a day can be as damaging as a man smoking an entire pack.

📚 Medical education still lags behind:

Most medical schools offer only one class on women’s health, and cardiovascular disease is rarely covered. As a result, many healthcare professionals even cardiologists lack the training to recognize and address women’s specific symptoms, leading to frequent misdiagnoses.

🌍 Cultural and religious barriers: In some culture;

-Women are discouraged from seeking care if they are ill, as their families may view it as a burden.

-Being overweight is associated with fertility and respect

-Religious beliefs discourage seeking medical help, viewing illness as “God’s will

💡 In the 21st century, when women represent 51% of the global population, this is simply unacceptable. Women deserve to be seen, heard, studied, diagnosed, and treated effectively.

🙏 A huge thank you to all experts and Global Heart Hub for making this summit so special and also to MEP Maria Walsh, who joined and who is working tirelessly in Brussels to include as many recommendations as possible in the upcoming 💙 EU Cardiovascular Plan.

With Anna Dé our next step is to turn these insights into concrete actions to drive policy change and a real shift in mindset.

#WomensHealth #CardiovascularDisease #GenderEquality #GHHUnite

#PolicyChange #WomensVoicesMatter

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Announcement: New Health Policy Collaboration with Global Heart Hub

Published on 23rd October 2025

Dear colleagues,

✨ I’m thrilled to share some exciting news! In just a couple of weeks, I’ll be heading to Dublin to attend Global Heart Hub’s 2025 Unite Annual Summit, a major global gathering of cardiovascular disease patient advocates and experts, all working toward better outcomes for patients worldwide.

🤝 I’ll be attending as an Associate Global Health Policy Consultant with Anna Dé – Healthcare Policy Consultancy, and I’m also delighted to announce a new partnership with Global Heart Hub. Together with Anna, we’ll be collaborating with Global Heart Hub on several exciting policy initiatives in the months ahead.

🌍 The 2025 Unite Annual Summit is organised by Global Heart Hub, the first global non-profit organisation giving a voice to people affected by cardiovascular disease and I’m truly honoured to have been invited to be part of this pivotal moment for the cardiovascular community. This is an incredible opportunity to contribute to meaningful discussions and support global efforts to drive positive policy change and improve cardiovascular health for all.

As many of you know, the cardiovascular field is at a crucial moment, the European Commission is currently developing the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan. This represents a significant opportunity to shape the future of prevention, early diagnosis, and equitable access to care, for both men and women, no matter where they come from.

❤️ Let’s not forget: despite decades of medical progress, cardiovascular disease remains the world’s leading cause of death and most of these deaths are preventable. By shaping policy in the right direction, we can save millions of lives.

🌟 Together at the 2025 Unite Annual Summit, we can make a difference. ❤️

#WomensHealth #HealthForAll #EUCardiovascularHealthPlan #CardiovascularHealth #HealthPolicy #GlobalHeartHub #GHHUnite

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Health Policy Training: Another Milestone Achieved!

Published on 21 October 2025

Anna Dé and Michael George just wrapped up their 3rd Moving Mountains Roundtable, and it was nothing short of inspiring! Having joined each session to support their amazing initiative, I was constantly amazed by how each one was unique, bringing fresh insights from a diverse and incredibly experienced audience. Whether it was about collecting dust, making progress, or moving mountains in health policy advocacy, I learned something new every time!

✈️ This time, however, was a bit different for me. I was on the road, traveling to Brussels to visit family and friends, connecting from a lively downtown bar with loud French music filling the air... Despite the distractions, the key takeaway was clear:

For true policy impact that benefits patients long-term, it’s not enough to just write a report that will sit on a shelf gathering dust.

📌 So, what does it take to create real, lasting change? Here’s what I’ve learned:

💡 Dive into the cause only if you truly believe in it and are ready to move mountains! Don’t do it alone, Align from the start with experts in key areas if you want to have an impact.

Then, follow these 5 game-changing steps to ensure success:

✔️ Develop a bold, visionary idea! The bolder, the better. Dream big!

✔️ Find a unique data set to prove your vision is not just possible, but urgent and measurable!

✔️ Build a community of believers, Without them, you’re stuck.

✔️ Mobilize your community, local teams are the real change-makers. Get them to act!

✔️ Create a long-term action plan, don’t stop at the report! It’s just the beginning. Regularly reassess, reconnect with stakeholders, find new research, and keep advocating until you see tangible changes that improve patient outcomes.

Bonus Tip: AI can be a great ally, but remember to always keep the human touch in your approach!

To wrap it up, this was another fascinating discussion on the complexities and excitement of health policy. Anna Dé and Michael George have helped create a framework that’s guiding us toward real change for patients. Huge thanks to the advocates, policy experts, and communicators who contributed, as well as Anna Dé and Michael George for their relentless dedication in shaping this process!

This was the last workshop of the year, but I truly believe it’s just the beginning. They are building something significant, a community of Moving Mountain believers. If you have ideas on how we can grow this movement, let’s hear them!

👇 Share your thoughts below or create your own posts using the hashtag #MovingMountains.

#HealthPolicy #PatientAdvocacy #PolicyImpact #Healthcare #MovingMountains #ChangeMakers #Collaboration #AIForGood #LongTermImpact

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Building a Global Consortium for the WHO Tender on Inclusive Clinical Trials

Published on 17 October 2025

Dear Network,

On 29 August 2025, I submitted a proposal to the World Health Organisation for the tender “Policy Guidance for Better Access of Underrepresented Populations to Clinical Trials.” The goal was to support the WHO by developing guidance to ensure more inclusive participation in research, particularly for children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and older adults.

In order to develop a competitive offer, I build a Consortium made of 22 top experts from institutions such as the Karolinska Institutet, the The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, the BRAC University, Dhaka, as well as several renowned consultants.

💔Sadly, we have just learned that our bid for the WHO tender, “Policy Guidance for Better Access of Underrepresented Populations to Clinical Trials,” was not selected in a highly competitive process.

💡While we didn’t win, this experience has been incredibly valuable. Developing the proposal took almost two months of intense work, and although entrepreneurship often comes with no guarantees, the real reward has been the connections, collaborations, and insights formed along the way. Leading this consortium and working alongside such talented experts in global health has been inspiring and deeply fulfilling.

🙏I want to publicly thank all the experts who joined me on this journey, many of whom had never worked with me before. Your trust, expertise, and commitment made this experience unforgettable. I look forward to collaborating on future projects that will improve global health and save lives.

🏛️Rome wasn’t built in a day - what matters is resilience, learning, and positivity.

🙏Eleni Aklillu, Birkneh T. Tadesse, Abel Gedefaw, Yifru Berhan, Abha Saxena Nuno Sousa, Ly Xīnzhèn Zhǎngsūn Brown, Marcio Sanches, Syed Masud Ahmed, Anna Dé, Grace Tran, MPH Godfrey Maro, Chee Gee See, PhD, MICR Huseyin Naci, Elias Mossialos, Constance Viehbeck, Effrosyni Choumpavli, Fernanda Flores, Elisabeth R., Allison Dye, Katie Baca-Motes🙏

#GlobalHealth #ClinicalTrials #InclusiveResearch #WHO #Collaboration #Networking #Resilience #Learning #Innovation #Impact

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Health Policy Training: Last chance to register to the Moving Mountains Initiative

Published on 14 October 2025

🗻 Last chance this year.

If you work in health policy, advocacy or comms, this is for you.

The Moving Mountains Framework is a new, practical way to turn health policy reports and campaigns into real-world, patient-focused change.

No fluff. No dust-collecting PDFs. Just a 5-step method that works.

📅 Join the final 2025 roundtable:

21 Oct | 3PM BST / 4PM CEST

👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/e6UkPnhf

#healthpolicy #advocacy #MMFramework #MovingMountains

Anna Dé Michael George

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Health Policy Training: The Moving Mountains Initiative

Published on 26 September 2025

This week, I had the privilege of supporting Anna Dé and Michael George with their Moving Mountain initiative ⛰️.

📌 We’ve already held two sessions with a wealth of experts in health policy, and it has been truly inspiring; I’ve learned so much! 💡📚

For those who are out of this field, in health policy, the goal is to develop strategies that ensure your message leads to policy change, and ultimately improves patients’ lives 🩺. It’s a long and complex journey that takes years ⏳ and for which there are no existing guidelines 📘. It sounds a bit wild, but this is my career journey 🌟

Thanks to this initiative, Anna and Michael have designed a 5-step strategy 📝💪 that helps you achieve your goals faster 🚀and more effectively.

A big thank you to Michael and Anna 🙏💖 for letting me be part of this incredible journey.

If you want to make a real impact in improving patients’ lives and missed the first two sessions, don’t worry, there’s still one more session in October 📅.

Make sure to register and join us! ✅

📅 21 Oct, 3pm BST / 4pm CEST – Register here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ew_UnnuZ

#HealthPolicy #PatientImpact #MovingMountain #HealthcareInnovation

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Announcement: Building a Consortium - Join Us to Advance Equity in Clinical Trials

Published on 25th July 2025

Dear Network,

I’m currently forming a consortium to respond to a WHO Request for Proposal focused on improving access to clinical trials for underrepresented populations - including pregnant women, children, older adults, and persons with disabilities.

The goal: to develop global policy guidance that enables greater inclusion of these groups in trials for treatments and products they are often the primary users of - yet are too frequently excluded from.

I’m currently interviewing multidisciplinary experts to join this important initiative. If you or someone you know is passionate about global health and equity, I’m looking for profiles in the following roles:

🔹 Lead Researcher 🔹 Ethics Expert 🔹 Policy Lead 🔹 Implementation Specialist

The work will contribute directly to global policy and support implementation of the World Health Assembly Resolution 75.8 on strengthening clinical trials.

⏳ Time commitment is flexible, and collaboration formats can be adapted based on interest and availability.

If this sounds aligned with your expertise or values, please get in touch at 📧 natacha.fovel@satellite-consultancy.com- or feel free to share with someone who might be a good fit.

#GlobalHealth #ClinicalTrials #HealthEquity #WHO #PublicHealth #Policy #Bioethics #ImplementationScience

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Announcement: New collaboration with Anna Dé - Healthcare Policy Consultancy

Published on 12th June 2025

After officially launching my company and becoming executive director of Satellite Consultancy based in Basel, Switzerland, I have another exciting news to share. I am starting a collaboration with Anna Dé – Healthcare Policy Consultancy, where I’m joining her expert team as an Associate Global Health Policy Consultant to support policy strategy and implementation through her boutique consultancy model.

Anna Dé is a highly respected and experienced global health policy strategist. Her approach – rooted in trusted partnerships, deep sector knowledge and a strong focus on patient impact – resonates deeply with me. I’m incredibly honoured to be joining her expert network.

With 25 years of international consultancy experience, and a huge window of clients and case studies, Anna is not only an inspiring professional but also a generous mentor. Despite her full schedule, she has taken the time to support me through the launch of my consultancy, offering guidance and encouragement that have meant a great deal.

So, I’d like to take a moment to say a heartfelt thank you, Anna Dé, for your leadership, your trust and your support. Your clients are incredibly lucky to work with someone like you and I feel just as lucky to be collaborating with you.

We will have a busy plan ahead as we will be working on various gamechanging global health policy projects in the field of cardiovascular disease. Watch this space! We will soon post more details on it.

Looking forward to everything we’ll build together!

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Announcement: Introducing Satellite Consultancy

Published on 11th June 2025

We are proud to announce a major milestone: as of Tuesday, 10 June, Natacha Fovel has officially taken on the role of Executive Director of GreigG Consulting GmbH, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.

While the company is currently registered as GreigG Consulting GmbH in the Swiss Commercial Register, all future communications and branding will refer to the company as Satellite Consultancy. The official name change is expected in the coming months.

🌍 About Satellite Consultancy

Satellite Consultancy is a boutique firm specializing in public affairs and strategic policy advisory for clients in the health sector. True to its name, Satellite Consultancy keeps a global perspective—monitoring policy developments worldwide, delivering tailored policy analyses, and transforming complex regulatory landscapes into actionable strategies. The company also empowers clients through strategic communications and stakeholder engagement, all with the goal of driving meaningful change for patients, society, and the planet. 💙🌿

The consultancy's mission is clear: to help healthcare organizations navigate the ever-evolving global, European, and national policy environments. While health policy remains the core focus, Natacha also brings valuable expertise in sustainability, international affairs, animal welfare, and artificial intelligence.

📍 Strategic Location

Based in Basel, Satellite Consultancy benefits from its proximity to Geneva, home to global health institutions and Brussels, the heart of European policy making. Natacha regularly travels between these cities to engage with key stakeholders and will continue to operate internationally based on client needs and project demands.

💼 Why Choose Satellite Consultancy?

Satellite Consultancy is a fresh and dynamic firm led by Natacha Fovel, whose unique dual background in political science and the pharmaceutical industry sets the consultancy apart. Her extensive network, strategic mindset, and empathetic leadership, recognized through a Diversity & Inclusion Award from a leading global pharma company, make her a trusted advisor in the health policy space.

Natacha is particularly skilled in:

Delivering insightful policy analyses
Designing impactful advocacy campaigns
Preparing precise non-financial and ESG reports

🌐 Launch Milestones

✅ Website is live: www.satellite-consultancy.com
✅ Visual identity: Logo and branding finalized
✅ First clients onboarded: A major pharmaceutical company and a global patient organization
✅ Collaborations underway: Partnering with top consultants in global health policy
🔜 What’s Next?

The coming months promise to be intensely productive and exciting, as Satellite Consultancy kicks off its first projects and collaborations. This launch marks the beginning of a new chapter in Natacha’s professional journey, one driven by purpose, impact, and innovation.

🙏 Thank You

Natacha extends her heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported her on this journey. If you know of organizations seeking expert support in public affairs, health policy, or strategic communications, please don’t hesitate to make a referral.

Let’s create impact together.
Let’s launch meaningful change. 🚀💡

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