•   A new report by the European Commission DG ECFIN1 and the Economic Policy Committee highlights the importance of generic and biosimilar medicines for the sustainability of healthcare systems across Europe.
  •   EU Member States currently face fiscal pressure on their healthcare and long-term care systems, driven by high levels of public expenditure and debt in most countries as well as demographic pressures.
  • The use of generic and biosimilar medicines fosters greater access for patients to high quality medicines while supporting the sustainability of European healthcare systems.


Medicines for Europe welcomes the publication of the ‘Joint Report on Health Care and Long-Term Care Systems & Fiscal Sustainability’ prepared by DG ECFIN[1] and the Economic Policy Committee (Ageing Working Group). The report presents policy challenges for healthcare and long-term care, and options on how to contain spending pressures through efficiency gains, in order to ensure fiscally sustainable access to good quality services for all. Increased use of generic and biosimilar medicines in medical practice is a central policy option put forward to increase the health status of the European population without necessarily increasing expenditure. The report highlights the need for policy action to safeguard and sustain the contribution of healthcare and long-term care systems to improve population health. Several recommendations are presented in order to get more value for money, ensure access to medicines and increase the cost-effectiveness of healthcare and long-term care services. Generic and biosimilar medicines in particular have a pivotal role to play in this process.

Adrian van den Hoven, Medicines for Europe Director General commented: “This report once again underlines the important role of generic and biosimilar medicines for sustainable healthcare. Medicines for Europe and its national association members are ready to partner with the EU and Member States to develop the most effective policies to increase access to generic and biosimilar medicines”.

[1] The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs

 

Medicines for Europe Communications:

Doris Casares doris@medicinesforeurope.com

Andrea Bedorin abedorin@medicinesforeurope.com