EU's Critical Medicines Act: A Step Towards Pharmaceutical Independence

The European Commission's Critical Medicines Act aims to reduce the EU's dependence on countries like China and India for essential drugs. The initiative targets supply chain vulnerabilities for critical medicines but faces challenges due to cost pressures and reliance on price-based tendering practices within the EU.

The European Commission unveiled an ambitious plan on Tuesday to diminish the EU's dependency on international sources, notably China and India, for antibiotics and essential drugs. The effort, however, encounters skepticism due to economic constraints.

Dubbed the Critical Medicines Act, the initiative focuses on strengthening the manufacturing supply chain for approximately 270 crucial medicines, as listed by the Commission in December. The bill encourages EU governments to move away from awarding generic medicine tenders based solely on cost, a practice critics argue has disadvantaged European manufacturers.

Despite more than 80% of active ingredients for antibiotics in Europe emanating from Asia, predominantly China, EU health ministries retain decision-making power over tenders, factoring in budget limitations, as highlighted by health ministers across 11 EU nations. The Commission continues its push to reform pharmaceutical laws ensuring Europeans access both innovative and generic treatments, yet these proposals await legislative approval.

(With inputs from agencies.)