EFPIA looks to new EU Commission line up to recognize Pharma contribution

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) was not surprised by the move of responsibility for the pharmaceutical sector from Enterprise and Industry to the Health and Consumer (DG Sanco) portfolio at the European Commission, and it is not unwelcome, a spokesman told The Pharma Letter, following our report yesterday implying otherwise.

'It had been discussed widely in the margins and did not come as complete surprise. We have good relations with DG SANCO, and we hope to continue and build on these with the new Commissioner,' he noted. (Due to an electronic communication failure, the EFPIA's comments were not included previously).

'What we do hope is that the Commissioner continues to understand the dual nature of the industry, and that he will help maintain the existing policy balance between the pharmaceutical industry's dual roles of meeting the health needs of Europe's patients and the significant contribution it makes to Europe's economic well-being, high-quality employment and substantial investment in European-based research,' the spokesman said.

Regrets delays on patient information

Meantime, in an open letter from its director general Brian Ager, the EFPIA has applauded  European Union Health Ministers' progress on preventing counterfeit medicines entering the supply chain and on improving pharmacovigilance, which were contained in the so-called 'Pharmaceutical package.' However, it regrets the Health Council's decision to freeze the debate on the Commission's proposal to give the public improved and equal information on their health and medicines, said Mr Ager.

'Given the strictly defined content and delivery channels of information and the proposed stringent monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, the unwillingness to discuss this constructively is disappointing,' he stressed.