Belgium wanted a drug shortages bill. It’s not happy with the EU’s plan.
Belgium first called for a law to tackle drug shortages in May 2023.
drug shortages
EU plans to boost medicines manufacturing in drug shortages bill
The Critical Medicines Act is the EU’s attempt to tackle manufacturing dependencies on India and China.
France leads fight against EU plans to merge health crisis and civil protection units
11 countries signed a paper to Ursula von der Leyen warning the move would downgrade Europe’s health crisis resiliency.
Hungary’s commissioner hearing: MEPs turn the screws on Olivér Várhelyi over health gig — live updates
Will this contentious figure make the grade to sit in von der Leyen’s next Commission?
Czechia includes pharma industry in ambitious new economic strategy
The Czech government has designated the pharmaceutical sector as a strategic industry, aiming to reduce dependence on non-EU imports and support national health systems, avoiding shortages.
Paris seeks to calm Sanofi workers’ fears over American takeover
French government threatens sanctions if production leaves France; downplays vetoing the deal.
Swedish medicines agency wants state-run pharma production to prevent shortages [Advocacy Lab Content]
The Swedish Medical Products Agency is pushing for the creation of a state-run pharmaceutical production company to deal with shortages of critical medicines.
Netherlands should raise generics prices to combat drug shortages, says Dutch bank [Advocacy Lab Content]
The Netherlands should increase the maximum price of generic medicines sold to Dutch patients to help combat drug shortages, Dutch bank ABN AMRO said in a recent report.
To do: 6 thorny issues lurking in MEPs’ inboxes
From creating an EU-wide money market to protecting kids online, POLITICO looks at what lies ahead for lawmakers.
Vandenbroucke is a top pick for EU health commissioner. But the chances are slim.
Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke has a great CV for the EU’s top health post. But will Belgium let him go?
Swedish medicines regulator seeks stronger mandate to combat drug shortages [Advocacy Lab Content]
The Swedish Medical Products Agency is seeking a new mandate to address drug shortages. It wants to take charge of redistributing critical medicines to pharmacies and setting up a stock-based situational awareness system.
New Czech Medicines Act takes force, boosting pharma efficency, tackling shortages [Advocacy Lab Content]
Czechia has enforced new legislation since 1 June aimed at reducing the impact of drug shortages on patients while enhancing the efficiency of the pharmaceutical market.
French pharmacists strike over drug shortages and pay, closing shops nationwide
French pharmacists launched their first walkout in 10 years on Thursday, closing up shop over drug shortages, pharmacy closures and fears medications could be sold online, as well as higher pay.
Hungary wants new approach to manage growing drug shortages [Advocacy Lab Content]
Hungary’s Minister of State for Health, Péter Takács, has said a new approach is needed to allow Hungary to choose medicines better suited to the national health budget.
Drug shortages, now normal in UK, made worse by Brexit, report warns
Some shortages are so serious they are imperilling the health and even lives of patients with serious illnesses, pharmacy bosses sayDrug shortages are a “new normal” in the UK and are being exacerbated by Brexit, a report by the Nuffield Trust health t…
EU plan for medicine stockpile could worsen UK’s record shortages
Bloc plans to bulk-buy key drugs for all 27 countries, potentially leaving Britain ‘behind in the queue’The EU is to stockpile key medicines that will worsen the record drug shortages in the UK, with experts warning that the country could be left “behi…
Diabetes drug shortages to last until end of 2024, warns UK
The use of medication such as Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic for weight loss sparks supply fears for diabetics
Czech MPs approve law to tackle drug shortages, pharma industry unconvinced
The Czech Parliament has approved a law amendment setting out new obligations for suppliers and distributors of medicines, pharmacies and state authorities in what the health ministry sees as a solution to tackle medicine shortages. But the pharmaceuti…
Belgium leads the charge on the EU’s medicines reshoring plans
New European drug factories will be greener and more efficient than the old ones — and their products more expensive.
Austria steps up action to prevent critical drug shortages this winter
The Austrian government is cooperating with wholesalers to stockpile medicines and subsidise the sale of cheap drugs to avoid another ‘unacceptable’ winter of shortages. With at least 582 types of medicine still unavailable ahead of the impending flu s…
Brussels draft plans to avoid EU pharmaceutical shortages
The European Commission presented a series of measures Tuesday to prevent future drug shortages, including the immediate launch of a voluntary EU-wide solidarity mechanism for medicines.
Ireland seeks ‘multi-stakeholder’ solutions to face winter’s drug shortages
“Winter season 2022-2023 saw significant medicine shortages, and it is not possible to predict what shortages may occur through winter 2023-2024,” a spokesperson for the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) told Euractiv.
Concerns over potential drug shortages rise as winter approaches
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is closely monitoring drug shortages as access to medicines is once again at the heart of discussions in Brussels, since the demand for drugs increases during the virus season.
Berlin eyes 2030 EU enlargement but Poland remains an obstacle
In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about Poland wanting to tighten border checks with Slovakia, a Czech law amendment to address drug shortages drawing criticism, and so much more.
Czech law amendment to address drug shortages draws criticism
In an effort to combat drug shortages, the Czech health ministry is pushing forward an amendment that significantly changes the role of all players in the pharmaceutical market – though concerns have been raised about additional costs without adequate …
Germany gears up to avert winter drug shortages
Amid warnings of potential shortages for key medicines this winter, German health minister Karl Lauterbach presented a five-step plan and reassured the public that the country is “much better prepared” than one year ago.