The European Union is currently facing supply shortages for many common medications and antibiotics. Painkillers and drugs against fever are for exemple in short supply in pharmacies, forcing them to start their own production. MEPs debate in plenary. Extracts.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

Public health (T2)

WÖLKEN, Tiemo (S&D, DE)

METZ, Tilly (Greens/EFA, LU)

COLIN-OESTERLÉ, Nathalie (EPP, FR)

TRILLET-LENOIR, Véronique (Renew, FR)

KYRIAKIDES, Stella (CY, EC)

ROSWALL, Jessika (SE)

Surge of respiratory infections and the shortage of medication in Europe: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs Many member states are currently facing an increased respiratory infections due to the combined circulation of three viruses: the RS virus,influenza and the corona virus.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs Health systems across Europe, particularly hospitals and emergency departments, find themselves under pressure once again to meet the rising number of patients with respiratory diseases and the rising demands for medicines to treat this subject, such as antibiotics, antivirals and anti-inflammatories.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs The Presidency welcomes the upcoming Commission's proposed proposal on the revision of the pharmaceutical legislation, which aims to enhance the security supply of medicines and addresses shortages.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissionner for Health and Food Safety As these products are authorised at national level, the Member States competent authorities are already putting mitigation measures in place and together with the European Medicines Agency, we are doing our very best to support but also to coordinate Member States and industry facing this challenge.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissionner for Health and Food Safety If needed here, can step in and coordinate on behalf of the Member States. The Joint Procurement of Medical Countermeasures, as we did during COVID, and also organise matchmaking events between industry actors in order to help increase production.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissionner for Health and Food Safety The proposal to revise the pharmaceutical legislation is is a programme format and will be including stronger obligations for supply, earlier notifications of shortages and withdrawals and enhanced transparency of stocks. Other non-legislative measures are being taken to keep the medicines supplies for the EU citizens and patients going.

SOUNDBITE (French), Nathalie COLIN-OESTERLÉ (EPP, FR) This is not new. We've seen a 20 fold increase in 20 years for various reasons. Rising prices, different types of treatment available, massive offshoring of production, 80 to 85% of active ingredients used to make drugs in Europe come from China and India. 45% of drugs marketed in Europe are produced outside the EU. We are highly reliant on countries that may decide to restrict exports to favour their own citizens. That is the case in China. Paracetamol, or we may be vulnerable to political tensions.

SOUNDBITE (German), Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D, DE) We're reaching the limits of what we can do when it comes to treating illnesses in child hospitals and also those for adult staff are working way beyond the limits. And there's a dramatic lack of medicines as well. So I can only emphasise that the proposals that we make in this House absolutely need to be implemented. We need to ensure that European production of medicines is boosted. We need medicines to be produced and produced here. We need a sustainable medicines industry, We need appropriate care for our staff because we need enough medical staff here in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (French), Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR (Renew, FR) Following market authorisation, based on EMA expertise, which is single, we have 27 uncoordinated processes in the Member States where they require national authorisation and national assessment provision. A bilateral price negotiation. And so some drugs become non-profitable. And this leads to national stocking, which leads to competition between member states. We must be able to restore the virtuous cycle of European sovereignty.

SOUNDBITE (French), Tilly METZ (Greens/EFA, LU) They have allowed free reign to the private sector and to national and European level. And so we have systematic commercialisation of public health care and that has produced the situation we're familiar with here today. Citizens Health is being put in jeopardy.