A curated selection of EPHA’s mentions in worldwide media outlets.
2016
CETA — ADVERTISING TO KIDS — BLACK SPOT
POLITICO
28 October 2016
Nikolai Pushkarev, a food, drink and agriculture policy coordinator for the European Public Health Alliance said a major problem with the EU Pledge is that its nutrient profile model is considerably weaker than the WHO model.
FOOD FIGHT OVER PLEDGE TO LIMIT MARKETING TO EUROPE’S KIDS
POLITICO
27 October 2016
Nikolai Pushkarev, a food, drink and agriculture policy coordinator for the European Public Health Alliance said a major problem with the EU Pledge is that its nutrient profile model is considerably weaker than the WHO model.
PUBLIC HEALTH GROUPS CALL FOR EU TARGET AND ACTION ON SERIOUS ROAD INJURIES
EUBUSINESS
26 October 2016
The groups, led by the European Public Health Alliance, say that the figure of 135,000 seriously injured people in 2014 reflects the ‘enormous toll’ that road collisions still take on individuals, their families and health services.
CITY PHARMACEUTICAL MAJORS BLAMED FOR INCREASING DRUG RESISTANCE
THEHINDU.COM
26 October 2016
While releasing the Changing Markets report, the European Public Health Alliance, an NGO alliance that receives funding from European Union, in its press note last Tuesday claimed that 10 millions lives could be lost by 2050 to drug-resistant infections with an accompanying economic losses totalling $ 100 trillion.
AMR FIGHT — ENDOCRINE SCOOP — VACCINE PUSHBACK
POLITICO
25 October 2016
EPHA adviser Sascha Marschang told us it was “regrettable that the report is evasive on any concrete conclusions” and that it “skims over the latest reports from ECDC which show that AMR is getting more and more urgent in Europe, especially when it comes to multidrug resistant bacteria and resistance to last-line treatments such as colistin.”
PUBLIC HEALTH GROUPS CALL FOR EU TARGET AND ACTION ON SERIOUS ROAD INJURIES
ETSC.EU
25 October 2016
The groups, led by the European Public Health Alliance, say that the figure of 135,000 seriously injured people in 2014 reflects the ‘enormous toll’ that road collisions still take on individuals, their families and health services.
TTIP NEGOTIATIONS THREATENS EU ACTION AGAINST MRSA
INFORMATION.DK
25 October 2016
Original Title: TTIP-forhandlinger truer EU-indsats mod MRSA
SCOTTISH COURTS BACK MINIMUM UNIT PRICING
THEPARLIAMENTMAGAZINE.EU
24 October 2016
Her comments were echoed by Nina Renshaw, Secretary General of the European Public Health Alliance, who said, “This landmark case will give the green light to other countries across Europe to follow suit. Ireland is next in line, with their ground-breaking public health and alcohol bill, which will do even more to raise awareness of the impacts of alcohol and will protect children and young people from ubiquitous, aggressive alcohol marketing and promotion.”
ITALY’S PHARMA SCANDAL HEATS UP DRUGS PRICING DEBATE
LATRIBUNE.FR
19 October 2016
Original Title: Un scandale italien relance le débat sur le prix des médicaments
ITALY’S PHARMA SCANDAL HEATS UP DRUGS PRICING DEBATE
EURACTIV
17 October 2016
Yannis Natsis, Policy Coordinator at the European Public Health Alliance, recently blamed the European Commission for a “low” political appetite to address the situation. “The Commission is too outdated to keep referring to the competence issue,” he said.
EU HEALTH POLICY THIS WEEK
EU MONITR
14 October 2016
The EPHA flagship access to medicines event entitled “Healthy Innovation for all” scheduled to take place on November 29 in Brussels under the auspices of Poland will bring together key stakeholders who will engage in an open and lively discussion around the real questions and problems.
EU MEPS DEBATE CANADA TRADE DEAL
TAX-NEWS.COM
14 October 2016
Nina Renshaw, Secretary General of the European Public Health Alliance, pointed out that there has been no assessment of what CETA would mean for medicine prices in Europe.
PUBLIC-SECTOR TRADE UNIONS WARN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AGAINST THE IMPACT OF CETA
ELECONOMISTA.ES
12 October 2016
Original title: Economía/Macro.- Sindicatos de servicios públicos alertan en la Eurocámara sobre el impacto del CETA
CETA – EUROPEAN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INDUSTRY AND OF THE FARMERS IN FAVOUR – TRADE UNIONS AGAINST
TT.COM
12 October 2016
Original title: CETA – EU-Industrie und Bauernvertreter dafür – Gewerkschaft dagegen
TRADE UNIONS WARN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AGAINST THE IMPACT OF CETA
ELPERIODICO.CAT
12 October 2016
Original title: Els sindicats alerten l’Eurocambra de l’impacte negatiu del CETA
102 LEADING PARTY MPS GIVE UP NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY TO BRUSSELS
ALFAHIR.HU
11 October 2016
Original title: ÉS AKKOR 102 KORMÁNYPÁRTI POLITIKUS FELAJÁNLOTTA A NEMZETI SZUVERENITÁSUNKAT BRÜSSZELNEK
ACCORDING TO THE MAJORITY OF EU MEMBER STATES, CETA IS BENEFICIAL
IN-PHARMATECHNOLOGIST.COM
4 October 2016
Original Title: Az uniós tagállamok többsége szerint kedvező a CETA
DSP: “QUALITY MARK” WOULD ENGAGE PATIENT CHOICE IN FIGHT AGAINST ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
INFO-EUROPA.COM
4 October 2016
More recently the European Public Health Alliance named untreated waste water discharged by ingredient firms as an “ignored cause” of AMR.
CETA IS BENEFICIAL, ACCORDING TO THE MAJORITY OF EU MEMBER STATES
HIRADO.HU
3 October 2016
Original title: Az uniós tagállamok többsége szerint kedvező a CETA
TRADE PREFERABLE WITH CANADA THAN US
HIRADO.HU
3 October 2016
Original title: Inkább a Kanadával üzletelünk, mint az USA-val
THE AMR CHALLENGE IS AS GREAT A THREAT AS CLIMATE CHANGE – WE MUST ACT NOW
PARLIAMENT MAGAZINE | THEPARLIAMENTMAGAZINE.EU
26 September 2016
If Europe does not act now, it will become increasingly difficult to treat both existing diseases and infections.
UN DECLARATION SHOULD BE ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF AMR
PHARMAVIEWS.EU/
21 September 2016
Inaction is not an option, otherwise by 2050 “we will have more people dying as a result of antibiotic resistance than currently die from cancer”.
HOW BIG PHARMA’S INDUSTRIAL WASTE IS FUELING THE RISE IN SUPERBUGS WORLDWIDE
TRUTH-OUT.ORG
20 September 2016
Ahead of a United Nations summit on antimicrobial resistance in New York this week, the report — by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and pressure group Changing Markets — calls on major drug companies to tackle the pollution which is one of its root causes.
EC PRESIDENT SHOULD LEAD ON AMR THREAT
IMT.IE
20 September 2016
Dear President Juncker, On behalf of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Association (EFPIA), we regret that your State of the European Union speech did not devote more attention to Europe’s role in protecting and improving health across the Union.
DAWN OF THE AGE OF THE SUPERBUG
POLITICO.EU
20 September 2016
“I have a déjà vu with climate change. We had momentum in 2005 and it took a decade” to actually move to action, said Nina Renshaw, secretary general of the European Public Health Association, referring to the Paris agreement reached in December.
PHARMA INDUSTRY ‘CANNOT ESCAPE’ DRUG PRICE TALKS, SAY PATIENT GROUPS
EURACTIV.COM
19 September 2016
Severely hit by an unprecedented economic crisis, public health systems in many EU member states are no longer able to fully reimburse drugs, leaving some patients without access to essential treatment.
HOW BIG PHARMA’S INDUSTRIAL WASTE IS FUELLING THE RISE IN SUPERBUGS WORLDWIDE
THE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM | THEBUREAUINVESTIGATES.COM
15 September 2016
Ahead of a United Nations summit on antimicrobial resistance in New York next week, the report – by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and pressure group Changing Markets – calls on major drug companies to tackle the pollution which is one of its root causes.
HOW BIG PHARMA’S INDUSTRIAL WASTE IS FUELLING THE RISE IN SUPERBUGS WORLDWIDE
THE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM | THEBUREAUINVESTIGATES.COM
15 September 2016
Ahead of a United Nations summit on antimicrobial resistance in New York next week, the report – by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and pressure group Changing Markets – calls on major drug companies to tackle the pollution which is one of its root causes.
JUNCKER’S COMMISSION ACCUSED OF NEGLIGENT RESPONSE TO BIGGEST HEALTH THREAT OF THE 21ST CENTURY
EUBUSINESS.COM
13 September 2016
Their calls were echoed by the public health community, consumer and environmental groups, representatives of the pharmaceutical industry and health professionals including infection control specialists, nurses and pharmacists, at a conference titled RESISTANCE!, Antibiotics, politics and public health hosted by the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA).. Archie Turnbull, EPHA President, defined antimicrobial resistance as “the biggest health threat of the 21st century”.
POLITICO PRO MORNING HEALTH CARE: PRAISE FOR BERGSTRÖM — UK DOCTORS DISPUTE SAGA — ITALIAN FERTILITY DRAMA
POLITICO.EU
2 September 2016
Brussels lobbying will not be as challenging or fun without him, tweeted Yannis Natsis, policy coordinator for access to medicines at the European Public Health Alliance. But he already fired the warning shots for Bergström’s successor.
PHARMA POLLUTION AN ‘IGNORED’ CAUSE OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
IN-PHARMATECHNOLOGIST.COM
24 August 2016
Pollution in pharma supply chains is contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), says a new report.
POLITICO PRO MORNING HEALTH CARE: FRENCH CLINICAL TRIAL UPHEAVAL — AMR WARNING
POLITICO.EU
16 August 2016
The European Public Health Alliance and Changing Markets called yesterday on the U.K. and other major purchasers of drugs to blacklist pharmaceutical companies that are contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance through “irresponsible manufacturing practices,” such as antibiotic waste discharge straight into the environment.
EMA SAYS ADAPTIVE PATHWAYS PROGRAMME STILL NEEDS REFINEMENT
PMLIVE.COM
8 August 2016
Earlier this year, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) issued a briefing document in which it voiced a number of concerns about the adaptive pathways project, including that affordability was not clearly stated as a primary objective.
SAVING ANTIBIOTICS FOR WHEN THEY ARE REALLY NEEDED: THE DUTCH EXAMPLE
THE BMJ | BMJ.COM
3 August 2016
Today the Netherlands has one of the lowest levels of antimicrobial resistance in the world, and it believes the only way to keep resistance levels down is for health and agricultural sectors everywhere to work together in what it calls a “One Health” approach.
EMA DRUGS ACCESS REPORT RAISES MORE FLAGS FOR SKEPTICS
POLITICO.EU
3 August 2016
Yannis Natsis, policy coordinator for medicines access at the European Public Health Alliance, said, “It’s clear that they have not been forthcoming and transparent.”
PRICE OF INNOVATIVE MEDICINES | COOPERATION OF CENTRAL-EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WELCOMED BY BRUSSELS STAKEHOLDERS
EURO-HEALTH.RO
20 July 2016
Original title: Preţul medicamentelor inovatoare | Cooperarea ţărilor central-est europene, salutată de actorii de la Bruxelles
TTIP SHOULD CARRY A HEALTH WARNING
EEB.ORG
8 July 2016
While there’s still everything to play for in the negotiations, the truth is regrettably less reassuring. Especially in light of the leaked US positions, and the continuing lack of transparency of the latest official texts, the public are right to remain worried that TTIP should carry a health warning.
POLITICO PRO MORNING HEALTH CARE: THIS TYPE OF EUROPE — BIAL ABANDONS PROBLEM DRUGEEB.ORG
POLITICO.EU
7 July 2016
Another who doesn’t think health policy is a small thing is Yannis Natsis at the European Public Health Alliance, who in a blog praised the Dutch presidency for taking on taboos like drug patents during its six months.
COULD OMEGA-6 RICH OILS LESSEN TRANS FAT HEALTH ISSUES?
FOOD NAVIGATOR
6 July 2016
The type of unsaturated fat used alongside trans-fats in food could play a role in modifying negative effects, a new study suggests.
THE DUTCH & PHARMA POLICY: A GROUNDBREAKING PRESIDENCY
PRESSENZA
5 July 2016
The Netherlands’ Presidency of the European Council proved to be far from quiet in relation to pharmaceutical affairs.
HOW TO ACHIEVE COHERENCE BETWEEN TRADE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN TTIP?
TACD GUEST BLOG
1 July 2016
The author argues that trade liberalisation policy can both support public health goals and undermine them.
POLITICO PRO MORNING HEALTH CARE: ANDRIUKAITIS ON ‘TOXIC’ FARAGE — ACCESS, ACCESS, ACCESS
POLITICO.EU
30 June 2016
“It’s time to stop being politically correct,” Yannis Natsis, policy coordinator for access to medicines at the European Public Health Alliance, told the MEP and Commission representatives in the room. “It’s your time to shine,” he told the Parliament after praising the Dutch presidency for breaking a taboo by putting a link between drug pricing and intellectual property rights in Council conclusions.
POLITICO PRO MORNING HEALTH CARE: EMA DEFENDS ADAPTIVE PATHWAYS — LAST EPSCO FOR DUTCH
POLITICO.EU
17 June 2016
“As far as the abuse of the IP system is concerned, we sincerely hope that the European Commission will stop burying its head in the sand, rise to the occasion and deliver the asks mandated by the health ministers in a comprehensive and unbiased manner,” said Yannis Natsis, policy coordinator for access to medicines at the European Public Health Alliance.
EPHA ASKS THAT CONSUMERS WILL BENEFIT FROM COST SAVINGS FROM TTIP
EL GLOBAL
17 June 2016
Original Title: EPHA pide llevar al consumidor el ahorro en costes derivado del TTIP
DRUGMAKERS WEIGH SHIFT IN EU DRUG PRICING DEBATE
POLITICO.EU
16 June 2016
European pharma industry leaders are weighing a fundamental shift in their approach to drug pricing – a formal request to move away from negotiating on the basis of products and towards system based on measurable outcomes of treatment.
POLITICO PRO MORNING HEALTH CARE: COFFEE AND CAFFEINE — DEVICES DEAL — BIOSIMILARS
POLITICO.EU
16 June 2016
The European Public Health Alliance and Global Health Advocates yesterday launched a campaign for “transparency and disclosure of real R&D costs and affordable medicines for all.” At the European Development Days under way this week in Brussels, they mounted a “black box” stand to illustrate their claim that more light needs to be thrown onto how drug firms calculate their R&D costs and prices.
EUROPE’S “RADICAL” REGULATORS DRAWN FURTHER INTO PRICING DEBATE
PHARMAEXEC
9 June 2016
One of the first into the fray was the European Public Health Alliance. Its spokesman on access to medicines, Yannis Natsis, took issue with any link between adaptive pathways and doing anything about “the high prices of medicines”. There is, he said, no compelling evidence to support assumptions of improved affordability. On the contrary, “some evidence points to fast track approaches leading to higher prices,” and some serious assessment is needed of the impact. It is not enough to be “working on the basis of an untested assumption,” he said.
IMPACTS OF AGRICULTURE ON HEALTH – THE LIVESTOCK CONNECTION
EATING BETTER UK
7 June 2016
Agriculture and health are intimately connected, but health remains the missing link in agricultural debates.
POLITICO PRO’S MORNING HEALTH CARE, PRESENTED BY ECPC: WHO’S ‘PHONEY WARS’ — FDA-EMA NOT BEHOLDEN TO TTIP
POLITICO.EU
3 June 2016
Lancet editor-in-chief Richard Horton […] in one fell swoop blasting the entire agency in an opinion piece out today: “You will never find a WHO official prepared to state on the record that a country is betraying its people by ignoring their wellbeing.”
WHY SOME ALCOHOL CHALLENGES ARE BEST TACKLED AT EUROPEAN SCALE
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
2 June 2016
When a country individually considers introducing public health measures that impinge in one way or another on the free flow of goods, it must be ready not only to face heavy national industry opposition, but that of European stakeholders as well.
CIVIL SOCIETY URGES MEMBER STATES TO DEFEND NEED FOR CRITICAL REVIEW OF IP SYSTEM AND INCENTIVES FOR MEDICAL INNOVATION
HAIWEB.ORG
2 June 2016
Excessive and additional Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) do not contribute to genuine needs-driven medical innovation, and also delay generic competition, which results in unaffordable medicines prices that European health care systems struggle with today. It is an issue requiring urgent political action.
THE COST OF REVOLUTIONARY DRUGS ENDANGERS HEALTH SYSTEMS
AGERPRES
2 June 2016
Original Title: Costul medicamentelor revoluționare pune în pericol sistemele de sănătate
HEALTH NGOS: COMMISSION ‘LISTENED’ TO INDUSTRY ON ALCOHOL ADVERTISING
EURACTIV.COM
2 June 2016
Several health NGOs, including the European Centre for Monitoring Alcohol Marketing (EUCAM) and the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), reacted negatively to the executive’s proposal, claiming that it lacked further restrictions on alcohol advertising.
THE LOSS OF A COMMON DOLPHIN SPECIES IN A NATURA 2000 SITE: CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT ABSENCE DESPITE EXTENSIVE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND EXPLICIT CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATION
OPEN SCIENCE EU
1 June 2016
The short-beaked common dolphin has suffered drammatic decline in the Mediterranean Sea during the last 40 years, in particular in the central part of this semi-enclosed basin.
POLITICO PRO’S MORNING HEALTH CARE, PRESENTED BY ECPC: ADAPTIVE PATHWAYS ATTACK — AVOIDING CORPORATE CAPTURE AT WHO
POLITICO.EU
30 May 2016
The European Public Health Alliance published on Friday a letter from nine professors and scientists who dismiss some of the assumptions used by the European Medicines Agency to justify the Adaptive Pathways pilot project.
EPHA FEARS THAT EU WANTS TO APPLY ADAPTIVE LICENSING
EL GLOBAL
27 May 2016
Original Title: EPHA teme que la UE quiera generalizar las licencias adaptables
POLITICO PRO’S MORNING TRADE: NEW TTIP PROPOSAL ON DRUGS — INTA APPROVES TUNISIA FUNDS
POLITICO.EU
26 May 2016
Nina Renshaw, secretary-general of the European Public Health Alliance, said the Commission must “present evidence that TTIP will actually lead to lower prices for medicines in Europe, rather than a convergence with the even higher prices that are today’s reality in the U.S. Affordability of medicines should be included as a key objective in line with the commitment in the proposal to ensure a high level of protection of public health.”
PUSH FOR EU DRUG PATENT SYSTEM REVIEW PRAISED BY NGOS
POLITICO.EU
26 May 2016
“It’s high time we stopped beating around the bush and look at the core of the access problems which appears to be the patent system,” said Yannis Natsis, policy coordinator for universal access and affordable medicines, at the European Public Health Alliance. “These conclusions are definitely a first step in the right direction.”
IS TTIP PRESCRIBING MORE EXPENSIVE MEDICINES FOR EUROPE?
EU BUSINESS
26 May 2016
Today, the European Commission released its proposal for an annex to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Agreement (TTIP) on medicinal products. The proposal fails to answer essential questions about affordability of medicines, trade secrets and clinical trials transparency.
WYDEN TO ITC: ‘WAKE UP’ TO NEW LAW
POLITICO.EU
25 May 2016
But Nina Renshaw, secretary-general of the European Public Health Alliance, said the commission must “present evidence that TTIP will actually lead to lower prices for medicines in Europe, rather than a convergence with the even higher prices that are today’s reality in the U.S.”
THE COST OF REVOLUTIONARY DRUGS ENDANGERS HEALTH SYSTEMS
LE CROIX
25 May 2016
Original Title: Le coût de médicaments révolutionnaires met en péril les systèmes de santé
REVOLUTIONARY HEPATITIS C DRUGS LEAVE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS REELING
MEDICAL EXPRESS
25 May 2016
(It’s) a wake-up call for the world’s richest countries, says Yannis Natsis from the Brussels-based European Public Health Alliance of NGOs and non-profits. “Before we didn’t have this debate, or just for Africa and AIDS,” he says.
REVOLUTIONARY HEPATITIS C DRUGS LEAVE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS REELING
YAHOO NEWS
25 May 2016
(It’s) a wake-up call for the world’s richest countries, says Yannis Natsis from the Brussels-based European Public Health Alliance of NGOs and non-profits. “Before we didn’t have this debate, or just for Africa and AIDS,” he says.
THE GOOD AND THE BAD ASPECTS OF REVOLUTIONARY HEPATITIS C DRUGS
ECODIARIO
25 May 2016
Original Title: Luces y sombras de los fármacos revolucionarios contra la Hepatitis C.
THE GOOD AND THE BAD ASPECTS OF REVOLUTIONARY HEPATITIS C DRUGS
AGENCE FRANCE
25 May 2016
Original Title: Luces y sombras de los fármacos revolucionarios contra la Hepatitis C.
THE COST OF REVOLUTIONARY DRUGS ENDANGERS HEALTH SYSTEMS
ALVINET
25 May 2016
Original Title: Le coût de médicaments révolutionnaires met en péril les systèmes de santé.
THE COST OF REVOLUTIONARY DRUGS ENDANGERS HEALTH SYSTEMS
LE POPULAIRE
25 May 2016
Original Title: Le coût de médicaments révolutionnaires met en péril les systèmes de santé.
THE COST OF REVOLUTIONARY DRUGS ENDANGERS HEALTH SYSTEMS
L’EXPRESS
25 May 2016
Original Title: Le coût de médicaments révolutionnaires met en péril les systèmes de santé.
POLITICO PRO’S MORNING HEALTH CARE: GENEVA DISPATCHES — GLYPHOSATE COUNTDOWN
POLITICO.EU
24 May 2016
Yesterday, the European Public Health Alliance raised serious concerns about this, namely that there was no mention of adaptive pathways to meet patients’ “unmet medical needs,” as previously stated. The concern is this approach will turn “the exception — early access — into the new rule.”
WILL FAST-TRACKING MEDICINES IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY?
BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
24 May 2016
According to the European Medicines Agency, adaptive pathways aim to improve timely access to new medicines…
EUROPE’S “RADICAL” REGULATORS DRAWN FURTHER INTO PRICING DEBATE
PHARMA.EXEC.COM
24 May 2016 One of the first into the fray was the European Public Health Alliance. Its spokesman on access to medicines, Yannis Natsis, took issue with any link between adaptive pathways and doing anything about “the high prices of medicines”.
EUROPEAN PUBLIC HEALTH ALLIANCE: WILL FAST-TRACKING MEDICINES IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY? NEW EPHA BRIEFING RELEASED TODAY
SOCIAL PLATFORM
23 May 2016
Among other issues, they outline what they can do about the high prices of medicines through initiatives such as the ongoing adaptive pathways pilot project (formerly known as adaptive licensing). Their article raises serious questions as regards to public health risks of such an approach and legal questions around the governance of pharmaceutical regulation.
DOES THE EUROPEAN MEDICINES AGENCY WANT TO TEST NEW MOLECULES ON PUBLIC?
LE LANCEUR
10 May 2016
Original Title: L’Agence européenne du médicament veut-elle tester sur le public les nouvelles molécules ?
LEAKED TTIP DOCUMENTS MET WITH FUROR IN EUROPE, SILENCE IN U.S.
GLOBAL TRADE
10 May 2016
The European Public Health Alliance warned against the removal of tariffs on tobacco and unhealthy and processed foods.
EU COURT REJECTS LOBBY’S CLAIMS AGAINST NEW TOBACCO RULES
MALTA TODAY
5 May 2016
The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) welcomed the ECJ judgement and called for all EU and national institutions to respect the global Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to reduce the damage done by tobacco products worldwide, including 700,000 premature deaths each year in the EU.
EU COURT REJECTS LOBBY’S CLAIMS AGAINST NEW TOBACCO RULES
MALTA TODAY
5 May 2016
The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) welcomed the ECJ judgement and called for all EU and national institutions to respect the global Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to reduce the damage done by tobacco products worldwide, including 700,000 premature deaths each year in the EU.
HEALTH AND CONSUMER GROUPS SAY TTIP LEAK CONFIRMS FEARS
EURACTIV.COM
2 May 2016
Zoltán Massay-Kosubek, policy coordinator for Health and Trade (TTIP) at the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), commented: “While the main focus is on non-tariff barriers and the right to regulate, there are still significant tariffs on some health-harmful goods including tobacco and processed foods high in salt, sugar and fats. (…) So far the Commission has neglected to evaluate the health impact, but no doubt it would offset a significant portion of the purported economic benefits of TTIP.”
EPHA DEMANDS FOR TWO ENQUIRIES IN THE EU PHARMA SECTOR
EL GLOBAL
22 April 2016
Original Title: La EPHA pide dos investigaciones en el sector farmacéutico europeo
ANDRIUKAITIS LASHES OUT AT ALCOHOL INDUSTRY, NGOS
POLITICO.EU
21 April 2016
Further taxation would be a good instrument to fight alcohol abuse, Andriukaitis said, and he asked the European Public Health Alliance to lobby national governments to increase excise duties on alcohol.
EUROPE: WHAT PRICE MEDICINES? THE SUBJECT THAT WON’T GO AWAY
PHARMA.EXEC.COM
19 April 2016
The European Public Health Alliance, the European Social Insurance Platform and Association Internationale de la Mutualité have written to Europe’s health ministers backing virtually every aspect of Dutch minister’s views on EU collaboration to tackle high prices.
EU HEALTH MINISTERS TO TACKLE PRICING, PATENTS, ORPHAN DRUGS
POLITICO.EU
14 April 2016
“I think it is rather revolutionary,” said Yannis Natsis, a policy coordinator at the European Public Health Association. “We have never had this discussion at the Council. It is the first time we have had these questions asked in such a straightforward manner.”
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT’S VOTE TURNS HEALTH INTO A TRADE SECRET
EU BUSINESS
14 April 2016
“This vote weakens recent efforts by European Institutions to increase sharing and transparency of essential health data. Clinical trials data transparency is key for patient safety, for access to affordable medicines, for public health research and innovation.” stated Nina Renshaw, Secretary General of the European Public Health Alliance.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PASSES TRADE SECRETS DIRECTIVE
THE PHARMA LETTER
14 April 2016
New European Union rules to help companies win legal redress against theft or misuse of their trade secrets…
US AND EU ADANCE TOWARD A COMMON REGULATION ON GENERIC DRUGS
EL GLOBAL
1 April 2016
Original Title: Estados Unidos y la Unión Europea avanzan hacia una regulación común de genéricos
NGOS URGE THE EU COMMISSION TO REVIEW THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY
EURACTIV.DE
22 March 2016
Original Title: NGOs drängen EU-Kommission zur Überarbeitung der Gemeinsamen Agrarpolitik
NGOS URGE COMMISSION TO REVIEW EU’S COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY
EURACTIV.COM
22 March 2016
The NGOs, which include the European Environmental Bureau, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), Greenpeace and BirdLife Europe, say the CAP isn’t equipped to address the challenges that farmers face in the agricultural sector.
MEASURING HEALTH OUTCOMES IS A ‘NO BRAINER,’ BUT NOT WIDESPREAD
POLITICO.EU
21 March 2016
“It’s a no-brainer to measure outcomes,” said Yannis Natsis of the European Public Health Alliance.
POLITICO PRO’S MORNING HEALTH CARE: THE REAL ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM — FINDING DOCTORS DOWN UNDER
POLITICO.EU
11 March 2016
For the European Public Health Alliance’s Yannis Natsis, the elephant was the issue of affordability of medicines. “Affordability is the number one problem in Europe today and I don’t hear how patents will address this real problem affecting millions of Europeans,” he said.
MEDICAL INNOVATION AND MEDICINES PRICING
THE EUROPEAN FILES
1 March 2016
The issue of high prices of medicines has become and rightly so, one of the most debated topics across the continent. It is high time policy-makers acknowledged that the exorbitant prices imposed on medicines constitute the main obstacle between a patient and her/his treatment.
EU DRUG PRICING REPORT TAKES HITS
POLITICO.EU
29 February 2016
But Yannis Natsis of the European Public Health Alliance said the report had clearly demonstrated how a culture of secrecy had prevented an external reference pricing from functioning. As long as drug companies insist on confidentiality over the discounts from list prices, price comparisons are made in the dark, he said.
COMMISSION DEFENDS PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE EU
EURACTIV.COM
17 February 2016
The Commission could, for example, also do more when it comes to coordination, and exchanging best practices between national health systems, according to Yannis Natsis, a policy coordinator at the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA).
POLITICO PRO’S MORNING HEALTH CARE: SUPERBUGS IN PARLIAMENT — TALKS ON MED DEVICES RESTART
POLITICO.EU
17 February 2016
Yannis Natsis of EPHA wanted a higher priority for health – backed by more political will – in the EU agenda, and tighter definitions of the value of innovations: “sheer novelty is not enough,” he said.
POLITICO PRO’S MORNING HEALTH CARE: PHARMA CHAFES AT GERMANY — ROCKETING UK DEATH RATES
POLITICO.EU
16 February 2016
Isabel de la Mata, principal adviser for health and crisis management at DG Santé, and Yannis Natsis of the European Public Health Alliance are meant to keep the first two speakers in check as “respondents.” Two politicians vs one technocrat and one NGO representative. We will see how that plays out.
LETTERS: INTERNATIONAL INTERFERENCE IN THE EU DEBATE REEKS OF HYPOCRISY
THE TELEGRAPH
15 February 2016
We urge EU governments, the European Parliament and the European Commission to support and implement such a ban.
COMMISSION TO PUSH ADVICE ON ANTIBIOTIC USE
POLITICO.EU
10 February 2016
“We have got a lot of recommendations coming from left, right and center,” said Sascha Marschang, policy manager for health systems at the European Public Health Alliance. He welcomed the emphasis on links between human and animal use of anitbiotics, but added, “Is it strong enough, I’m not so sure.”
DUTCH EUC PRESIDENCY PRIORITIES IN THE FIELD OF PHARMACEUTICALS
THE PHARMA LETTER
5 February 2016
The Dutch Presidency of the European Union Council appears to be keeping its cards close to its chest…
SIMULATING THE IMPACT ON HEALTH OF INTERNALISING THE COST OF CARBON IN FOOD PRICES COMBINED WITH A TAX ON SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES
BIOMED CENTRAL
3 February 2016
Beyond this, several countries have implemented unhealthy food and SSB taxes motivated at least in part to improve health, for example Hungary, France, Denmark, and Mexico
PUBLISH MINUTES OF EXPERT MEETINGS, OMBUDSMAN TELLS COMMISSION
EURACTIV.COM
2 February 2016
The European Commission should start publishing comprehensive minutes of the meetings of the 830 expert groups the executive uses to inform its policy decisions, an EU watchdog has said.
EU COURT RULING ON MINIMUM UNIT PRICING A ‘TURNING POINT’ IN FIGHT AGAINST ALCOHOL RELATED HARM
TELESUR
30 January 2016
Europe’s governments should look to follow Scotland’s lead and develop minimum pricing for alcohol, say health NGOs.
POLITICO PRO’S MORNING HEALTH CARE: ANTIDEPRESSANT RISKS — ZIKA IN EUROPE
POLITICO.EU
28 January 2016
Although the directive may be a fait accompli, with three-way talks on it completed in December, the European Public Health Alliance and others are still fighting. EPHA said it was worried that vague language in the directive, especially in article 4, does not completely exclude information related to clinical data from being considered a trade secret.
DRUGS: THE PROBLEM NOBODY TALKS ABOUT
PROTAGON
26 January 2016
Original Title: Φάρμακα: το πρόβλημα για το οποίο κανείς δεν μιλάει
EU COURT RULING ON MINIMUM UNIT PRICING A ‘TURNING POINT’ IN FIGHT AGAINST ALCOHOL RELATED HARM
THE PARLIAMENT MAGAZINE
19 January 2016
As the froth surrounding the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling on the Scottish minimum unit pricing (MUP) case subsides, only one conclusion is appropriate; the Court remains agnostic.
10 KEY TRADE SECRET DEVELOPMENTS OF 2015: PART 2
LAW 360
15 January 2016
10 Key Trade Secret Developments Of 2015: Part 2
POLITICO PRO’S MORNING HEALTH CARE: ZIKA VERDICT — DRUG PRICING BRAINSTORM
POLITICO.EU
3 January 2016
Yannis Natsis of the European Public Health Alliance, for his part, complained that as long as drug companies insist on confidentiality over the discounts from list prices, price comparisons are made in the dark — meaning even external reference pricing fails to meet the objective of accessible and affordable drugs.
AUSTRALIA TOBACCO CLASH REVERBERATES IN EU TRADE TALKS
POLITICO.EU
1 January 2016 “The arbitration court declined to hear the case on the grounds that it was not competent, as Philip Morris had shifted its commercial identity during the course of the case,” said Catherine Hartmann, vice president of the European Public Health Alliance.