Medicines for Europe is deeply concerned about the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system in the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive under discussion in trilogue negotiations.
the continuous increase in the prices of input raw materials as well as the increase in the cost of production and transport of medicines are in direct contrast to the ongoing price reduction of generic and biosimilar drugs in the Slovak Republic. The consequence is a rising shortage of medicines for patients. Even a short interruption in the availability of medicines can have a major impact on a patient’s health and life. Every patient has a right to certain access to the medicines they need. This access is a fundamental aspect of providing quality healthcare.
Medicines for Europe, the European association representing generic, biosimilar and valued added medicines manufacturing, is writing to underline the key principles that we support in relation to the reform of EU pharmaceutical legislation which is currently under review in the European Parliament and the Council.
The first drafts of the European Parliament position on the proposals for Unitary SPC and SPC Regulation recast proposed by the Rapporteur Tiemo Wölken and published last week by the European Parliament are a step in the right direction for access to medicines across Europe.
The off-patent medicines industry provides 70% of medicines dispensed to patients in Europe, covering over 80% of therapy areas. Medicines for Europe is committed to working with the EU to secure the supply of essential and critical medicines for public health.
Background: Price erosion of generic medicines over time as a result of existing pricing policies in combination with increasing operational costs of these products due to high inflation, undermine long-term sustainable competition in European off-patent medicines markets. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify new potential pricing models for retail generic medicines in Europe, examine their pros and cons, and illustrate them with examples inside or outside the pharmaceutical sector.
The off-patent medicines industry provides 70% of medicines dispensed to patients in Europe covering over 80% of therapy areas. Generic, biosimilar and value added medicines make treatment options affordable, accessible, and available, so that patients can best manage their disease. These medicines also played a pivotal role during the covid outbreak, where between 70% and 90% of ICU medicines were off patent.
The off-patent medicines sector accounts for almost 70% of medicines dispensed in Europe, helping to manage the most prevalent chronic diseases including cancer, auto-immune conditions, cardiac disease, and diabetes. Value added medicines promise affordable, patient-centred innovation which can address serious health needs.
The European Parliament ENVI Committee voted today to ensure that the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, envisaged in the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, does not jeopardise the affordability, accessibility and availability of generic medicines, which account for around 70% of prescriptions.
Medicines for Europe met today in Brussels with a high level Ukrainian government delegation led by Maryna Slobodnichenko, Deputy Minister of Health European Integration. Medicines for Europe put forward ideas on how to plan for the future integration process which requires a lot of regulatory and market policy alignment.