Commissioner Dalli outlines strategy for pharmaceutical sector

Commissioner Dalli started out his speech with the challenges that EU health systems are facing today. Among others, he mentioned increasing healthcare expenditures due to ageing, multiple morbidities and chronic diseases, higher patient expectations, and technological innovation. Furthermore he highlighted the following initiatives in support of his vision and of relevance also to the pharma sector:

 Improving the sustainability of healthcare - through health technology assessments, country-specific recommendations, the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing, eHealth etc;
 Better availability and universal access to pharmaceuticals through the pharmacovigilance legislation, revision of Transparency Directive on pricing of medicines, faster access to medicines, etc
 Enhanced quality and safety through the Falsified Medicines Directive and improved pharmaco vigilance etc.

In the specific context of the meeting, Commissioner Dalli welcomed wholesalers’ efforts to explore new services (like patient compliance in the framework of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing), stating that the Commission is revising the good distribution practices to cut red tape and guarantee patient safety.

For further information

 John Dalli - Member of the European Commission

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