EU Provisional Deal to Boost Essential Medicine Manufacturing and Supply
Strengthening the EU's Essential Medicine Supply Chain
Provisional Agreement Reached
May 12 (Reuters) - The European Parliament on Tuesday said it had reached a provisional deal to strengthen the bloc's supply of essential medicines by increasing production within Europe and reducing dependency on non-EU countries.
Targeted Medicines and Manufacturing Expansion
The measures under the agreed text target critical medicines such as antibiotics, insulin and vaccines, and aim to expand EU manufacturing capacity.
Context and Industry Impact
The provisional pact comes at a critical juncture for the bloc, which has been scrambling to ensure future access to new drugs as U.S. pricing policies continue to shake the pharmaceuticals sector.
Next Steps for Approval
It needs to be approved by both the European Parliament and the European Council before the new rules can enter into force.
Calls for Regional Cooperation
Emer Cooke, the head of the European Medicines Agency, last month urged regional authorities in the EU to work together more closely to ensure access to drugs.
(Reporting by Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
