The Payer Exchange
Unscripted conversations with the people shaping drug pricing, access, and reimbursement around the world.
Hosted by Omar Ali, Head of Payers at Verpora, The Payer Exchange brings you honest, off-the-record discussions with payers working at the frontline of healthcare funding. Each episode features a one-to-one conversation with a payer from a different country—exploring local challenges, emerging trends, and contrasting approaches to some of the biggest questions in market access.
From horizon scanning to contracting, rare disease to real-world evidence, we ask the same core questions—but get different answers every time.
This isn’t a panel. It’s not a pitch. It’s a rare chance to hear what really drives decision-making—direct from those making the decisions.
The Payer Exchange
E1: France - Jean-Claude Castanier
In our first episode, I’m joined by Jean Claude Castanier, a former CEPS member and leading voice in France’s pricing and reimbursement landscape. We talk about the ongoing challenge of preserving net price across multiple indications, the payer’s role as a public communicator, and what long-term sustainability really means for healthcare systems under pressure.
From confidential discounts to transparency, and the tension between innovation and affordability—this is a grounded look at one of Europe’s most closely watched pricing systems.
About The Payer Exchange
The Payer Exchange is a podcast where Omar Ali, 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.
