The international conference Expert Forum, organized by the GENAS association, attracted key healthcare players to Bratislava on Monday, including representatives from the European Commission (DG SANTE), the Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the EU, Medicines for Europe, Slovak and European experts and analysts. The participation of significant stakeholders underscores the importance of the topic of treatment availability and the need for discussion on current challenges and solutions, all in the context of the ongoing revision of EU pharmaceutical legislation.
Ministers of Health will meet in Brussels on Friday 21st June to discuss EU coordination on health. Ahead of this meeting, Medicines for Europe calls on Member States, including small Member States and Central Eastern Europe Countries, to prioritise equitable access for all patients.
Medicines for Europe marks 30 years of delivering more equitable access to off-patent medicines as it opens its annual European conference in Dublin, in partnership with Medicines for Ireland.
A well-balanced incentives system for pharmaceuticals is essential to support the development, production, and supply of off patent medicines. These medicines account for 70% of medicines dispensed in Europe, for the most serious conditions like cancer, auto immune diseases and cardiovascular disease.
One of the key milestones of the current European Commission mandate on health has been achieved with the formal establishment of the European Health Union. Initiated by the importance of coordinated action during the pandemic, the Health Union promises to improve access to medicines with available, accessible and affordable medicines.
Today, the European Commission presented EU guidance on public procurement of medicines which is critical to improve the security of supply for patients and health systems. There is a need for concrete improvements to the procurement process, including better demand predictability and ensuring multiple suppliers on the market.
Over 90% of the EU critical medicines list are essential, generic medicines. Medicines for Europe members manufacture these medicines so patients can live better and healthier lives, and health systems can be sustainable and strong to serve them. These medicines include treatments for cardiovascular disease, intensive care units, infections and cancers.