Health News
3rd EMA-payer meeting on 12 March 2021 17-03-2021
Payers and EMA discussed evidence generation along the life-cycle of medicines
On 12 March, representatives from the European Social Insurance Platform (ESIP), the payer platform Medicines Evaluation Committee (MEDEV), the International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) met for the third time to further explore synergies and foster mutual understanding and cooperation on evidence generation, with the aim of better aligning evidence requirements for the different decision-making processes. On this occasion the focus was on evidence generation along the life-cycle of medicinal products.
More proposals on managing & preventing shortages 26-02-2021
New ESIP Paper on shortages of Medical Devices and PPE
In light of the lessons learned from COVID-19, ESIP welcomes and supports the reinforced European commitment to secure continuous supply of medicines, medical devices (MD) and personal protective equipment (PPE). In our recently adopted position paper we outline proposals for securing supply of MD and PPE, building upon our position on medicines shortages and taking stock of the measures specific to MD in the legislative proposals on Building an EU Health Union.
Shaping the future Health Data Space 03-02-2021
ESIP first insights on the Inception Impact Assessment
On 23 December the European Commission opened consultations on a European Health Data Space (EHDS). The evaluation roadmap/inception impact assessment remained open for feedback until 3 February. This initiative would complement the proposal for a Data Governance Act and promote access to and exchange of health data for primary use (healthcare delivery) and secondary use (research and development, policy-making).
Further steps towards a EU Health Union 02-02-2021
ESIP feedbacks to the legislative proposals on strengthening crisis preparedness
On 11 November the European Commission released a package of three legislative proposals for a European Health Union. ESIP commented on two of the proposed Regulations: on a reinforced role for the EMA and on serious cross-border threats to health.
Towards new OMP and paediatric Regulations 06-01-2021
ESIP feedback to the inception impact assessment on revision of OMP and paediatric legislation
In the framework of the new Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe – released on 25 November – the European Commission published an Inception Impact Assessment (IIA) on the revision of Regulation No. 141/2000 on orphan and Regulation No. 1901/2006 on paediatric medicinal products.
New Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe 25-11-2020
Shaping future pharma policies for increased accessibility and affordability of medicines
On November 25 the European Commission released the new Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe. The Strategy is intended as a roadmap for future action in the pharmaceutical sector, detailing a number of legislative and non-legislative initiatives for the coming years. Such actions should be deployed jointly with Member States.
Paving the way for ambitious EU health budget 13-11-2020
ESIP welcomes the political agreement for a reinforced EU4Health Programme
On November 10 the European Parliament and the German Presidency of the Council reached a political agreement on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2021-2027) and recovery package. The new political package includes a budget reinforcement of EUR 15 billion. More precisely the envelope for EU4Health would be tripled compared to the budget set by the Council in July, reaching a final amount of EUR 5.1 billion. This increase was hailed by the European Parliament and Commission as a major victory. Furthermore, on November 13 the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the EU4Health programme, calling to use EU funds to increase disease prevention, foster the digital transformation of health systems, and improve crisis-preparedness with a view to mitigating shortages of medicines and medical devices.
Towards a strong EU Health Union? 11-11-2020
ESIP first reaction to the new EU Health Package on preparedness to cross-border threats
On November 11 the Commission released a package of three legislative proposals on Building a European Health Union: Reinforcing the EU’s resilience for cross-border health threats. The proposals are a new Regulation on serious cross-border threats to health, and two Regulations on reinforced roles for the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The three initiatives are accompanied by a Communication on Building a European Health Union.
Healthcare systems post-COVID: pressing reset? 29-10-2020
ESIP participates in a POLITICO panel on how to increase healthcare systems' sustainability
On October 28, Ilka Woelfle - ESIP's President - represented ESIP in a POLITICO panel discussion on Healthcare systems post-COVID 19: pressing reset? bringing to the table payers’ views on how to increase the sustainability of healthcare systems. The panel was also joined by representatives of healthcare professionals, patients as well as by Andrzej Rys, from the European Commission Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE).
Tackling Medicine Shortages beyond COVID-19 28-09-2020
Actions to secure continuous supply of quality, effective and safe medicines
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic highlighted existing shortcomings in healthcare systems across the EU: supply chains of both medicinal products and medical devices have been impacted by the crisis, increasing the risks of shortages of essential drugs and equipment and consequently causing treatment delays and disruptions. Hence, the temporary and permanent unavailability of medicines severely affects patients’ health and puts a serious strain on European healthcare systems.
