'Better patient access to medicines and restoring Europe's security of supply more critical than ever'

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical link between patient access to medicine and a robust medicines manufacturing sector. As health systems begin to recover from the pandemic, a new crisis threatens stability and secure supply of medicines in Europe. This heightens the urgency to coordinate European Union action on essential medicines and access to care, translating political statements into real policy reform.

Beginning her mandate as president of trade group Medicines for Europe, Elisabeth Stampa, today outlined key policy priorities, requiring urgent EU action. These are:

1. Facilitating sustainable active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and medicines manufacturing in the EU to secure supplies for patients and healthcare systems in Europe.
2. Ensuring competitiveness of the European off-patent API and medicines sector and a flexible and digital regulatory system that facilitates timely access for patients.
3. Supporting the green transformation of API and medicines manufacturing.