Frequently Asked Questions

VBK & Partners is a Belgium-based, human‑curated matchmaking consultancy for healthcare and life sciences. We connect organisations with senior, pre‑vetted experts in public affairs, policy, market access, regulatory strategy, and strategic communications across the EU and beyond. Below are answers to the most common questions from clients and consultants — authored and verified by our founding partners, Maarten Van Baelen and Faraz Kermani.

Last updated: November 2025

General Questions

  • VBK & Partners is a strategic matchmaking platform and boutique consultancy. We connect healthcare and life sciences organisations with personally vetted senior consultants in public affairs, policy, market access, regulatory affairs, and communications.

  • We don’t operate as a classic consultancy with fixed in‑house teams. We match each client with tailored, pre‑vetted senior consultants or teams who bring the exact expertise and geographic focus needed — delivering flexibility, speed, and depth of knowledge with no learning curve.

  • We are based in Belgium and operate across the EU and beyond. We support EU‑level initiatives in Brussels as well as national projects through our network of experts across Europe.

  • VBK was founded by Maarten Van Baelen and Faraz Kermani, two leaders with long‑standing experience in EU healthcare policy, communications, association leadership, and stakeholder engagement.

  • Pharmaceutical and biotech companies, MedTech innovators, digital health firms, patient organisations, healthcare providers, trade associations, and public‑private partnerships.

  • We shorten the path from medical breakthrough to patient access by creating direct pathways between expert knowledge and decision‑makers. In healthcare, delay is not just inefficiency — it affects lives. Our role is to accelerate progress with evidence‑based, senior‑led support.

  • Meaningful policy influence, accelerated timelines, measurable access outcomes, and trusted long‑term relationships between clients and consultants.

Our Matchmaking Model

  • We clarify your objectives, scope needs, and constraints; we then identify and propose up to three relevant, pre‑vetted consultants or consultancies. We arrange introductions and support the initial scoping to ensure rapid start and clear deliverables.

  • Senior specialists in EU public affairs, regulatory strategy, market access, health economics, communications, association leadership, digital health policy, sustainability, and related disciplines.

  • Yes. We tailor by expertise area, language, country focus, therapy area, and stakeholder relationships — including experience with patient groups, regulators, and HTA bodies.

  • Not by default. Once a match is made and the consultant is contracted, VBK steps back — unless you request strategic oversight, quality assurance, or project coordination.

  • Yes. For complex assignments, we assemble and coordinate multi‑disciplinary teams with complementary skills across jurisdictions or policy areas.

  • A multi‑step vetting process reviews track record, references, language skills, and specialisation. We gather structured client feedback to ensure ongoing quality.

  • We revisit the brief, refine criteria, and expand the search. We only move forward when the fit is right.

  • No. VBK is human‑curated. We believe the right “chemistry” between people cannot be automated.

  • Personally vetted senior experts who can begin delivering value immediately — with minimal onboarding and no junior hand‑offs.

Services & Capabilities

  • We provide an integrated 360° ecosystem across public affairs & policy advocacy; regulatory & legal strategy; market access & health economics; strategic communications; medical & scientific affairs; association management; innovation & digital health; capacity building; sustainability & environmental health; project strategy & partnerships; crisis & reputation management; stakeholder & policy events; and pharmaceutical & medical supply chain.

  • Yes. We connect you with consultants experienced in EU project positioning, proposal development, and policy dissemination for EU4Health, Horizon Europe, and similar programmes.

  • Yes. Offerings include public affairs training, media and interview coaching, executive coaching for advocacy leaders, and change management workshops.

  • Yes. We design cross‑sector stakeholder strategies, patient and NGO engagement, and coalition‑building with clear governance and impact objectives.

  • Public affairs messaging, advocacy and awareness campaigns, media relations, crisis and issue communication, science and health literacy content, data storytelling, and patient‑focused communication.

  • Yes. Advisory on ESG and CSRD alignment, environmental risk and health policy, green public procurement, and sustainable healthcare strategies.

  • Yes. EU pharmaceutical and MedTech regulation, GDPR and EHDS, AI Act and innovation regulation, orphan and rare disease frameworks, and related compliance.

  • Yes. Pricing and reimbursement strategy, HTA dossier and submission support, real‑world evidence strategy, value communication, access readiness, and tendering.

  • Yes. EHDS implementation and interoperability, SaMD and digital therapeutics strategy, and AI Act compliance.

  • Yes. Policy reputation audits, crisis simulations, scenario planning, issues management (e.g., pricing or shortages), and accountability frameworks.

For Clients

  • Pharma, biotech, MedTech, and digital health companies; patient organisations; trade associations; and public‑private partnerships.

  • Absolutely. We work from Brussels across Member States through consultants with deep local and institutional expertise.

  • We aim to propose candidates within two weeks. With alignment on scope and terms, projects can begin within days.

  • We treat all information as confidential and process personal data only for matchmaking and coordination in line with GDPR.

  • By accelerated timelines, stakeholder influence, policy progress, and tangible patient access outcomes.

  • Yes. We can assign a strategic advisor or coordinator to align milestones, interdisciplinary workstreams, and quality standards.

  • A pre‑vetted, senior‑only pool reduces ramp‑up, eliminates training cycles, and focuses immediately on what moves the needle.

  • Yes. From patient alliances to cross‑industry coalitions, we design partnership strategies and governance to achieve common goals.

  • We designate a clear lead and operating framework (roles, cadence, deliverables) to ensure coherence across disciplines and geographies.

  • Yes. We tailor matches to therapy areas, technologies, and specific EU legislative files such as HTA, EHDS, and related dossiers.

For Consultants

  • Independent senior consultants and boutique firms with substantive experience in healthcare, life sciences, or public policy.

  • Access to qualified client projects, a trusted peer community, visibility opportunities, and multi‑consultant collaborations.

  • No. You remain independent and free to work with your own clients and other platforms.

  • Clients contract directly with consultants. VBK facilitates fits, clarifies expectations, and can support coordination when requested.

  • Yes. Through coaching, visibility initiatives, and opportunities to participate in larger assignments.

  • Yes. We welcome co‑created offers, workshops, and thematic collaborations under the VBK umbrella.

  • Based on proven expertise, experience, motivation, and chemistry fit — ensuring both competence and inspiration.

  • Yes. Network events, learning sessions, and strategic collaborations across Europe.

  • “True independence shouldn’t mean isolation.” We provide a professional home where experts belong, collaborate, and make meaningful impact.

  • Apply via our website with credentials, references, and specialisations. Selected applicants are invited to an onboarding interview.

Legal, Contracts & Confidentiality

  • The client contracts directly with the selected consultant. VBK is not a party to the commercial agreement and acts as a facilitator.

  • VBK facilitates the match and can provide oversight if requested, but the contractual performance sits with the consultant and client.

  • Yes. Information shared with VBK is handled on a strict need‑to‑know basis during matchmaking and coordination.

  • We are GDPR‑compliant. Data is processed exclusively for matchmaking and coordination, not for unrelated marketing.

  • Yes. Consultants can request data deletion or removal from the pool at any time. Clients may request deletion of project details once a match is complete.

Practicalities & Communication

  • Depending on complexity, we aim to propose candidates within two weeks. Urgent requests can be considered case‑by‑case.

  • Use our contact form or book an introductory call. We’ll guide you to a clear, actionable brief (objectives, scope, timelines, constraints).

  • We refine the criteria, expand the search, and present alternatives.

  • Yes. We help refine scopes, timelines, and deliverable structures — especially for politically sensitive or cross‑border contexts.

  • Yes. We can appoint a lead consultant or provide a VBK coordinator to streamline communications and decision‑making.

  • We define clear roles, RACI, and governance upfront, and we maintain a regular operating cadence (e.g., weekly stand‑ups and shared trackers).

  • Yes. We can add coordination or QA at any time if the project scope evolves.

  • English is standard. We can also support projects in major EU languages through our network.

  • Yes. We support venture‑backed start‑ups, scale‑ups, SMEs, and multinational organisations.

  • Pricing depends on scope, seniority required, and timeline. We can propose fixed fees for discrete deliverables or time‑based models for ongoing support.