2023-12-13 09:46:50
by Francesca Basso
The EU is highly dependent on China and India: the plan to avoid future shortages of active ingredients considered fundamental is progressing. Without these medicines, significant damage to patients and national health systems is possible
From our correspondent from Brussels – Paracetamol, insulin, atropine and lithium but also morphine and fentanyl, the vaccine for influenza and hepatitis A and B. And then the main antibiotics starting from amoxicillin, anaesthetics, antiepileptics, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, and other principles to treat a wide range of therapeutic areas including rare diseases or metabolic disorders.
What are
The European Commission published the list on Tuesday with the EMA of EU critical medicines: over 200 active ingredients selected after Member States examined 600 from national lists. The list will be updated every year. The EU’s strategic autonomy also passes through medicines, as the pandemic has shown, when supply chains were put in danger by the protectionist policies of the United States, Great Britain and India. The EU is highly dependent on China and India, and Brussels wants to improve resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges and unexpected events.
Prevent shortages
A medicine is considered critical when it is essential to guarantee the provision and continuity of quality healthcare – explains a note from the EU Commission – and to guarantee a high level of public health protection in Europe. The inclusion of a medicine on this list does not mean that shortages of this product are likely to occur in the near future, specifies the note, but indicates the fundamental importance of avoiding future shortages because unavailability could cause significant harm to patients and put health systems are under pressure.
The Commission, EMA and Member States will put in place the necessary measures to work with stakeholders to prevent shortages. The Critical Medicines Alliance will be launched in early 2024. The President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, explained that she will bring together industry, civil society, EU institutions and national authorities: together we will therefore identify the best measures to address and avoid shortfalls, from diversification and risk reduction , to the increase in production in Europe. And in an October communication, the EU Commission also indicated the creation of stocks and joint procurement among the possible solutions, as was done to purchase vaccines during the pandemic.
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December 13, 2023 (modified December 13, 2023 | 08:46)
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