2014 GA Agenda item 9.3 medicines shortages

Related to GA 2014 Agenda item 9.3.

Since the last GA….

EAHP has used the results of the 2013 medicines shortages survey to advocate, in conjunction with other organisations, for European level action to combat the problem, including:

• clarified legal responsibilities for manufacturers to report changes in production at an early stage
• an improved European Medicines Agency database of shortages
• annual reporting by the European Medicines Agency on the status of medicines shortages in Europe, and action that should be taken to address the problem
• leadership by the European Commission in analysing the extent of medicines shortages in Europe, the predominant causes, and available solutions
• international governmental dialogue about the problem

See also a common position paper on the topic that EAHP helped to author with patient organisations and other healthcare professionals here.

Presentation to Members at the Barcelona Congress here.

However, a consistent message received from the European Commission about the problem is that they do not feel they have a mandate from EU member countries to take action about the problem. EAHP policy and advocacy team therefore see a need to initiate national level lobbying to encourage EU Member State health ministers to allow the Commission to be more proactive.

Next steps….

EAHP would like to use the results of the 2014 medicines shortage survey as the basis for a fresh round of lobbying on the medicines shortage problem, this time with a national focus. Two important dates are in mind for this activity:

1. The October 2014 meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council (EU health ministers) at which EAHP understand the issue of medicines access in Europe will be discussed
2. The confirmation hearings in the European Parliament for the new Health Commissioner, likely in November 2014.

EAHP would therefore like to encourage its members to contact their health ministries and Members of the European Parliament (MEP) between July and October, providing a copy of the results of the 2014 medicines shortage survey, highlighting the statistics of the situation in the relevant country, and calling for their support for European level action. The Policy and Advocacy Officer (PAO) will give a further verbal description of the intended activity and outcomes.

EAHP Policy and Statement here.

 

[6th June 2014 – The first working draft of EAHP's intended 2014 Report on shortages is available here. The Policy and Advocacy Officer welcomes the opportunity to take informal feedback from Members on the development of this report during the GA. Given its very draft format, it is requested that GA delegates refrain from conducting any wider circulation of results for the time being.]