From medication waste to smarter medication management: practical pathways for EU action

Research Associate, LIUC University, Italy

Daniele Bellavia is a Research Fellow at the School of Management Engineering at Carlo Cattaneo LIUC University, and member of the adjunct faculty of LIUC Business School.

His primary research interests revolve around healthcare management, where he applies advanced techniques such as Activity-Based Costing and economic evaluation of health technologies to optimize healthcare processes and enhance operational efficiency.

Daniele’s work aims to bridge the gap between engineering principles and healthcare applications, ensuring that health systems are both effective and economically sustainable.

Vice-President at FEAM – Federation of European Academies of Medicine, Italy

Prof Ranieri Guerra has a long international career beginning with a focus on Africa, Middle East,  and the Far East. He has served in the Italian National Institute of Health where he managed a large portfolio of research projects both domestically and internationally. He is a well-known planner and assessor of the Global Fund and of EC funded programs in several areas of the world. He was the scientific director of the Italian National Foundation for health safety at work before serving as the Italian science counsellor at the Italian Embassy to the US, where he also chaired the association of Italian scientists in Washington, DC. He then served as the Director General of Preventive Medicine at the Italian Ministry of Health and as Italy chief medical officer before joining the World Health Organization in Geneva, where he was appointed the Assistant Director General for strategic programs for polio eradication and transition, AMR, IDPs and migrants’ health. He was a member of the EU Health security committee and a management board member of the ECDC; he acted as the Italian presidency team leader for the 2017/G7 health, and led four EU Joint actions (dementia, NCDs control, health system equity, health frailty). He designed the UN declaration on universal health coverage in 2019 in New York and assisted the government of Italy in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as the WHO Director General’s special envoy. He is visiting professor at the West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, and has been adjunct professor of medicine at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., in addition to several academic assignments in Italian universities and academic bodies. He is currently the head of Accademia Nazionale di Medicina International Affairs section. Since November 2024 he is a member of the Board of the Federation of European Academies of Medicine (FEAM).

Policy Officer, European Health Management Association (EHMA), Belgium

Dr Sergio Oliveira Formoso is a dedicated public health professional serving as a Policy Officer at EHMA, where he manages and contributes to EU- and privately-funded projects with a focus on public health and cancer prevention policy. His work spans research, stakeholder engagement, policy strategy, scientific writing, and data analysis, all driven by a strong commitment to building inclusive and equitable health systems that leave no one behind. 

With a diverse background in research, academia, and stakeholder management, Sergio brings a multidisciplinary and analytical approach to every project. Recognised for his strategic mindset and cross-collaborative research skills, he plays a key role in translating complex health policy insights into actionable outcomes. 

Born in Spain, Sergio holds a B.Eng. in Industrial Engineering and an M.Sc. in Biomaterials from the University of León, a Ph.D. in Regenerative Medicine from The University of Manchester (United Kingdom), and an MPH in Health Policies and Management from EHESP – École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (France).

President of the Global Health Section, European Public Health Association (EUPHA); Senior Research Fellow in Public Health, University of Crete and Maastricht University, Greece

Dr Elena Petelos is the President of the European Public Health Association’s (EUPHA) Global Health section. As a Senior Research Fellow in Public Health and a Lecturer at the University of Crete, Greece, and Maastricht University, the Netherlands, Elena brings a unique blend of clinical and policy knowledge. Her background spans medicine and biology, with a specialisation in molecular oncology, complemented by a mid-career re-training in health economics and policy.

Elena is a highly active figure in key international health organisations. She co-chairs the Real-World Evidence and Artificial Intelligence group at Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi) and serves as a Member of the Healthcare Professionals’ Working Party of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Additionally, she contributes to the Advisory Forum of the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) and is on the Advisory Board of the European Forum for Primary Care, where she leads the Vaccines Working Group.

Elena’s research, policy, and advocacy work are dedicated to fostering international collaboration, particularly in regulatory and legislative frameworks, to advance global health. A core focus of her efforts is on achieving digital equity and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with a specific emphasis on leveraging real-world evidence and artificial intelligence. Her commitment to a holistic approach to global health is further underscored by her memberships in the Royal Netherlands Society of International Law (KNVIR) and the International Law Association (ILA).

Head Pharmacist, SPITS Group, The Netherlands

Since 2021, Lars has been working as a pharmacist at SPITS Group. In this position, he fulfilled the key role between the various departments, including production, purchasing and sales.

In his career at SPITS Group, Lars was responsible for the successful completion of several projects, including the implementation of a renewed inspection system and software.

Executive Director, European Health Management Association (EHMA), Belgium

Ms Federica Margheri is Executive Director of the European Health Management Association (EHMA), where she leads the organisation’s strategic direction and represents the voice of health management at European and international level. She engages regularly with the European Parliament, the European Commission, the World Health Organization, national authorities, industry and civil society, promoting health management as a strategic lever for resilient, sustainable and people-centred health systems.

She works at the intersection of the EHMA membership, Board of Directors and Secretariat, ensuring the effective delivery of the Association’s mission and strengthening its role as a convenor of policy dialogue, research collaboration and professional exchange across Europe. A central part of her role is building and maintaining partnerships with European institutions, international organisations and project consortia, as well as overseeing EHMA’s portfolio of EU-funded initiatives and flagship events.

Ms Margheri brings over 15 years of experience in project and financial management, communications, operations, administration and governance within European and international organisations. Prior to joining EHMA, she worked with international NGOs and held positions at the European Commission and the European Parliament. She holds a Master’s degree in Policy and Diplomacy and a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy.