One of the challenges of financing to the changes in the joint acquisition of medicines: this is what you need to know about the new rules aimed at ensuring Europe reaching basic drugs.
The European Commission presented this week one of its most important health proposals, Critical Medicines LawHis goal Improving the safety of supply and the availability of basic drugs throughout the European Union.
Despite the ambition in some aspects, such as proposing a “European purchase” mechanism and a new group of “common interest” medications, this was not amazing, especially in coordinating emergency reserves. FinancingLike many other times in health matters, It is still a major concern. “Euronews” highlights the main open issues that must be addressed.
What risks proposes by the “European” protection proposal?
One of the most controversial aspects of the suggestion is the principle of “buying the European”, which It gives priority to cost security in public purchases. According to this proposed new rule, the powers of granting the European Union will apply the contracting requirements that prefer suppliers who make a large part of the critical drugs in the European Union.
“This perfectly fits the limits of what we have already in the European Union. We have a problem of supply securityEuropean Union Health Commissioner Olivier Farali said.
This new approach can display the European Union for International Trade Win. After all, Not much far from Beijing Policy to buy in China “health productsIt was recently interrogated by the European Union to restrict the arrival of foreign suppliers, including those of the European Union, to government contracts.
Earlier this year, the European Union CEO published a report in it Contributed to evidence of the unfair restrictions of ChinaOn the pretext that opening the market must be mutual. To advance, “European purchase” can put the European Union in A similar position, with The risk of revenge on business partners And seeing its arrival in the external market.
Return production to Europe (or closer)
To reduce the adoption of the third countries, the proposal It strengthens European production of critical drugsAs well as the new category of medicines of common concern.
but,It is necessary for these medications to be manufactured in European soil? According to the new proposal, not really. The committee plans to enhance bilateral cooperation and establish new strategic societies to ensure various supply sources.
“I trust in the nominated countries and countries closer, which must be in the pole position to help us restore production in the European Union or closer to the European Union,” said Farlly.
It also mentioned the possible European Union officials Cooperation with other European countries widerLike him United Kingdom and SwitzerlandLooking at its strong commercial links and their proximity.
Money taught me, because at the present time there is not much
One of the main defects of the proposal is its limited financing. he The 83 million euros-20 million budget for 2026-2027Mainly from the Eu4Health program, relatively modest.
This financing may only cover efforts Coordination of the European Pharmaceutical Agency (EMA) and the European CommissionInstead of supporting major production changes.
Although strategic projects can obtain additional funding from European Union programs such as Europe Horizon and the digital program in Europe, It is not clear whether these resources will be enough.
Before displaying the proposal, 11 European Union health ministers requested to expand the scope of defense financing in the European Union To include critical medications. However, Várhelyi excluded this idea, and insisted on the need to resort to government aid.
To facilitate, The committee has eased the restrictions imposed on government aid definitions in some new guidelinesEncouraging member states to invest their national budgets in this initiative.
propagandaImproving joint employment
The proposal includes Improving joint contracting mechanisms, as the committee assumes a more important role. Traditionally, the joint employment of the committee allows a minimum of nine member states to negotiate as a single purchase bloc, Take advantage of the collective demand for better conditions.
The new proposal is officially submitted and expanded this mechanism, allowing the committee to work as a central buyer When requesting at least nine member states.
In addition, a cross -employment model is provided by the committee, where the European Union’s executive official provides logistical and administrative support to member states that manage their employment. This formalization depends on Previous employment efforts led by the committee, such as buying monkey and influenza vaccines.
Not something missing? The issue of emergency reserves
One of the main recommendations of the Monetary Medicine Alliance – a living organism of the parties concerned that analyzes the weaknesses of the supply chain – was the creation The framework of the European Union coordinator for the emergency reserve constitution.
propagandaHowever, this side was completely deleted in the proposal. approach Storing the European scale will ensure that the member states are not competing with each other For supplies and can depend on the solidarity of the European Union in the event of a shortage.
Without coordination, Storage efforts are at risk of retailWhich would cause shortcomings and potential equality.
“It cannot happen again that most administrative countries store medicines without sharing them with the smallest countries“After the proposal entered the legislative process, MEPS is expected to make adjustments to increase coordinated storage measures.
