Access to Medicines

[Joint Press Statement] Access to medicines in Europe: The EU cannot save banks while sacrificing people’s health

Brussels, 17 May – In a seminar hosted yesterday by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament and the Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Alejandro Cercas (S&D, Spain), six MEPs from various political groups (1) along with representatives of governments, leading academics, researches and public health organisations (2) met to raise awareness about one of the most alarming issues that European healthcare systems (...)

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Also about: Pharmaceuticals and Medicines , Health Rights and Patients , Research , Transparency , Information to Patients

[EPHA Briefing] Access to Medicines in Europe in Times of Austerity

When discussing the topic of access to medicines in the context of the economic crisis we have to consider three determinants: affordability and availability, in terms of access to medicines, and innovation in terms of developing new methods of assuring best possible health outcomes. AFFORDABILILTY Usually, health expenditures are mostly covered by public funding and supplemented by private spending. The economic crisis has forced public expending to be cut making patient co-payment (...)

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Also about: Pharmaceuticals and Medicines , Research , Economic crisis , technology , Innovation , equality , Austerity

[Seminar report] Can EU Citizens Afford Their Medicines?

This high level meeting revolved around various political processes linked to the economic crisis. Some of the topics discussed include implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy, as well as pharmaceutical legislation for ensuring that people living in Europe have access to a wide range of quality and affordable medicines. The meeting hosted by Mr Alejandro Cercas, MEP (Spain,S&D) and by the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D Group) served to assess the impact (...)

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Also about: Pharmaceuticals and Medicines , Health Rights and Patients , Research , Transparency , Information to Patients

EP resolution underlines the need for action on medicines access problem

On 18 April, the European Parliament (EP) voted on a Resolution on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on human rights. The resolution highlighted some of the global impacts of the crisis on the right to health. EPHA applauds the EP’s recognition of the multiple impacts of the crisis on ordinary people and the need to further champion public health across Europe. The Resolution states that "the rising price of medicines (by up to 30%) is having a negative impact on the (...)

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Also about: Social Issues , Ageing and Older People , Pharmaceuticals and Medicines , Patient safety , rights of people with disabilities , Transparency , Economic crisis

Policy responses to the economic crisis – a shift towards investing in health?

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Also about: EU Institutions , Civil Society , Economic crisis , financial , patient rights , Innovation , economic policies , health system , council of the european union

New evidence on access to healthcare: austerity marginalises Europe’s weakest

On 9 April 2013, EPHA member Medecins du Monde European office (MdM) launched a new report that documents the effects of the economic crisis and rising xenophobia on undocumented migrants and other vulnerable groups at risk of exclusion from healthcare systems. Results show that the consequences of austerity measures are particularly strong in Southern Europe where many undocumented migrants are living in an administrative limbo. They are being joined by increasing numbers of European (...)

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Also about: Health Rights and Patients , Healthcare services , Health Inequalities , patient rights , health threats , health system , migration , health economics , Austerity

[Save the Date] Third Flu Summit of the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESI)

The third annual Flu Summit organised by EPHA member the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza will take place on 2 May 2013 in Brussels. It will be an opportunity to learn about and discuss with experts issues such as pandemic preparedness, new influenza target groups, and vaccination strategies. This year’s edition focuses on new developments and challenges in the influenza field, with special attention for discussions on safety and effectiveness of influenza vaccines. (...)

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Also about: Communicable Diseases , Pharmaceuticals and Medicines , Health professionals , Patient safety , H1N1 influenza , health literacy , public health , health threats , health system , ESWI European Scientific Working Group on Influenza

European Medicines Agency Workshop on Medication Errors

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) organised a workshop on Medication Errors on 28 February – 1 March, a timely event given that such incidents are much more frequent across Europe than is commonly known. They are the most common preventable cause of adverse events in medication practice. The workshop was opened by EMA Director Guido Rasi who stated that, although the reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions to the EMA-administered EudraVigilance database forms an integral part (...)

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Also about: Pharmaceuticals and Medicines , Health Rights and Patients , Health professionals , Healthcare services , public health , patient rights , pharmacovigilance , health system

Collaboration between Medicine Patent Pool and ViiV Healthcare will increase access to HIV medicines

On 27 February, the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) presented the position on innovative Paediatric Collaboration between the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and ViiV Healthcare. The agreement will facilitate and increase the provision of HIV medicines for children in a whole world. The European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG) supports the collaboration between Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and ViiV Healthcare. The license for paediatric formulations of the antiretroviral medicine abacavir (...)

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Also about: Pharmaceuticals and Medicines , Health Rights and Patients , HIV/AIDS , Patient safety , patient rights , Innovation , Children health

Ageing populations- Council conclusions on the sustainability of public finances

After the economic and financial affairs Council meeting, the Council has stated that in order to fight the economic and financial crisis and enhance sustainable growth, EU Member States have to ensure progress towards long-term fiscal sustainability of public finances. Further implementations of structural reforms should be done in accordance with the Europe 2020 strategy. According to positive developments related to life expectancy, more attention has to be paid to ageing population (...)

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Also about: Ageing and Older People , Development and Health , Economic crisis , Europe 2020 , social protection