The European Commission is seeking views on a roadmap towards the adoption of a Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe.
The aim of the proposed Strategy is to ensure Europe’s supply of safe and affordable medicines to meet patients’ needs and support the European pharmaceutical industry’s innovation efforts. It will address all levels of the value chain from research and development to authorisation and access of patients to medicines taking into account scientific and technological advances. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic around preparedness and supply chains will also be addressed.
The Commission described the Pharmaceutical Strategy as being in line with the new Industrial Strategy for Europe and the priorities outlined in the European Green Deal, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, and the European Digital Strategy. The current roadmap exercise will be followed by a full public consultation later this year.
Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner in charge of Health and Food Safety, said: ‘By the end of the year, I will present an ambitious Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe to ensure affordability, sustainability and security of supply. The coronavirus pandemic has showed us more than ever that we need to have a crisis-resistant system and the means to produce medicine within the EU to ensure timely access to essential medicines for our citizens and hospitals in all circumstances.’
Interested citizens and stakeholders are invited to share their views on the roadmap until 7 July 2020 (midnight CEST).