Brussels – On Tuesday, EU member states reached a consensus on the Critical Medicines Act and deliberated on the long-term budget with a focus on healthcare. This announcement was made by the Slovak Republic’s Minister of Health, Kamil Šaško (Hlas-SD), following the EU Council for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) meeting in Brussels, where he advocated for the production of critical medicines within the EU, as reported by TASR.
Kamil Šaško highlighted that the ministers addressed several key issues, with the approval of the general approach to the EU Critical Medicines Act being the most significant. He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic unveiled systemic challenges within Europe, particularly regarding the accessibility of critical medications.
“We identified a specific number of critical molecules, exceeding two hundred, with the figure subject to adjustment. The goal is to guarantee an equitable and balanced distribution of these medicines throughout the EU, based not solely on pricing but also on information sharing, enabling the European Commission to centrally procure and distribute medications,” he clarified.
He further indicated that the discussions on Tuesday significantly advanced cooperation, enhancing the EU’s preparedness for future critical pandemic scenarios.
The Health Minister stressed that to ensure the availability of critical medicines, the EU should not rely on imports but focus on domestic production to minimize external dependence. “Every effort must be made to enhance self-sufficiency and competitiveness, supporting domestic European manufacturing of critical medicines,” he asserted.
He also mentioned that his department introduced new pharmaceutical legislation on Monday (1 December) and noted that many initiatives discussed at the EU Council in Brussels are mirrored in domestic reform proposals. “I anticipate that some of what we discussed today will be reflected in our legislation,” he added.
The minister pointed out that the Brussels discussions also included planning for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) post-2027, emphasizing the need to ensure that health and healthcare topics do not get overshadowed by broader economic discussions in future budgets. “We must prevent this, and I will advocate for a greater allocation of funds towards healthcare development and infrastructure, as current EU funding for healthcare at home is insufficient. I hope to see improved reflection of this in the upcoming programming period,” Šaško stated. (2 December)
“Every step must be taken to strengthen self-sufficiency and competitiveness, ensuring the supply and production of critical medicines bolsters domestic European production.” Kamil Šaško
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