The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union has reached a preliminary agreement with the European Parliament on the Critical Medicines Act, following lengthy and intensive negotiations, the Presidency announced on Tuesday. The regulation is considered one of the most significant legislative files in European health policy.
The new regulation creates, for the first time, a comprehensive framework for preventing and addressing shortages of critical medicines, strengthening their production within Europe and ensuring that patients across all member states have timely and equal access to the treatments they need.
A particularly significant element of the regulation is the provision allowing member states to pool their resources for the procurement of critical medicines, thereby strengthening their collective bargaining power, improving supply security and securing better access terms. The regulation also promotes investment in European production of medicines and active pharmaceutical ingredients, with the aim of reducing Europe's dependence on a limited number of third countries. The Presidency said this reinforces the EU's strategic autonomy and bolsters the health security of its citizens.
The agreement is described as a major achievement of the Cyprus Presidency. "This success demonstrates that Cyprus can, through constructive dialogue, technical competence and political determination, play a decisive role in shaping European policies that meet the needs of all patients in the EU," the Presidency said, adding that Cyprus leaves "a strong mark" on European health policy through this agreement.
Source: CNA
