EU negotiators agree new rules on vital medicines

"“With today's agreement, we are taking practical action to reduce our vulnerabilities, diversify supply chains and strengthen Europe's capacity to produce critical medicines and their ingredients closer to home,” said Cypriot Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides, whose country currently holds the rotating EU Council presidency. Charalambides said that people should no longer have to be worried about whether they could obtain essential medicines from their pharmacy or hospital."

"“The agreed rules aim, among other things, to make it easier to use public funding to support the production of such medicines.” The new rules foresee giving priority to medicines manufactured in Europe in cases of public procurement. So-called strategic projects would also receive faster approval and more rapid access to funding."

"“The rules would also allow several countries to join together to buy important medicines, particularly those used to treat rare illnesses an area where the market is deficient, according to the European Commission.” This approach targets medicines where demand and supply conditions leave gaps in availability."

"“European Union negotiators on Tuesday reached an agreement on rules that aim to bolster the bloc's supply chains for essential medicines and reduce its dependence on drug manufacturers outside the bloc.” The rules are intended to combat drug shortages that have occasionally affected the bloc in the past few years, leaving pharmacies low on certain medicines including painkillers, antibiotics and fever medicine for children."

EU negotiators reached an agreement on rules to bolster supply chains for essential medicines and reduce dependence on manufacturers outside the bloc. The rules target drug shortages that have left pharmacies low on medicines such as painkillers, antibiotics, and children’s fever medicine. The agreement aims to reduce vulnerabilities, diversify supply chains, and strengthen Europe’s capacity to produce critical medicines and ingredients closer to home. The rules would make it easier to use public funding to support production. Priority would be given to medicines manufactured in Europe in public procurement. Strategic projects would receive faster approval and quicker access to funding. Several countries could also join to buy important medicines, including those for rare illnesses where the market is deficient.

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