16th September 2026
The Board of the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), which represents the research-based biopharmaceutical industry in Ireland, has appointed Caitríona Duggan as its President for a two-year term.
Caitríona has worked with Amgen Ireland for 20 years and has been its Country Director since 2018. She has also played an active role in IPHA for the past decade. Eimear Caslin, General Manager of GSK Ireland, has been appointed Vice-President.
Caitríona takes up the presidency at an important moment for patients, healthcare, and Ireland’s life-sciences sector. Ireland is holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, is preparing for the publication of the Government’s Life Sciences Strategy and is implementing the new Framework Agreement on Pricing and Supply of Medicines.
The appointment coincides with new nationally representative research, commissioned by IPHA and conducted by Ipsos B&A, which found that 90% of people believe timely access to the latest medicines and treatments is essential to an effective health service. The research also found that 78% support greater Government investment in adult vaccination programmes.
It found that 87% believe pharmaceutical companies make an important contribution to Ireland’s economy and society, while 89% believe the EU should regard the pharmaceutical industry as vital to public health and jobs. Eight in ten respondents believe geopolitical developments are affecting the pharmaceutical sector, underlining the importance of a resilient medicines ecosystem in Ireland and across Europe.
Commenting on her appointment, Caitríona Duggan, President of IPHA, said:
“I am taking on the IPHA presidency with a clear ambition: that Ireland should be a country where patients can benefit from medical innovation in a timely way, supported by a strong and globally competitive life sciences sector. Our member companies are deeply committed to Ireland and proud of what industry and the country have achieved together through investment, research, innovation and manufacturing. As scientific advances accelerate and the global environment evolves, we are determined to build on that success and ensure Ireland remains at the forefront of healthcare innovation.
“Timely access to medicines and vaccines is not an abstract policy objective. It can materially affect health outcomes and quality of life. Our shared responsibility is to ensure that innovation with meaningful clinical value can reach patients through pathways that are timely, evidence-led, and sustainable.
“Government, the HSE, patient organisations, healthcare professionals, the HPRA, the NCPE and industry each have distinct roles. By working constructively together, we can strengthen the pathway from scientific progress to high-quality patient care, while supporting a resilient and sustainable medicines system.
“The new Framework Agreement, Ireland’s EU Presidency and the forthcoming Life Sciences Strategy give us an important opportunity to act. My priority as President will be to build strong partnerships around common objectives: better outcomes for patients, a resilient healthcare system, and an Ireland that remains a compelling place to research, develop and manufacture the medicines of the future.”
Welcoming the appointment, Shane Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of IPHA, said:
“Caitríona brings deep experience of Ireland’s healthcare and life-sciences landscape, together with a clear understanding of the need to connect innovation with improved outcomes for patients.
“The latest IPHA research shows that the public recognises the importance of the sector to the economy and society here in Ireland and across Europe but also the value of medical innovation and the need to ensure people can access it in a timely, responsible and sustainable way. Under Caitríona’s leadership, IPHA will continue to work constructively with Government, the health service, patient groups and other stakeholders to make progress on access, prevention, supply resilience and Ireland’s long-term competitiveness.”
ENDS
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