Measures to ensure availability of critical drugs and deal with deficiencies in “Small Markets”, he calls for Dimitris Tsiodras, with his question to the European Commission. In particular, it asks the Commission if it examines the creation of a common mechanism of cooperation for joint commissions between Member States facing similar challenges in terms of availability, access to innovative medicines and the treatment of shortages.

He emphasizes that many innovative medicinal products are not circulated or circulated with significant delays in certain markets, causing inequalities among patients in the EU, while smaller Member States tend to pay higher prices.

He adds that “the EU faces shortages of 33 drugs and depends on a limited number of third country suppliers for raw materials and active pharmaceuticals (APISs), with the consequences of this dependency becoming obvious during the recent Covid-19 pandemic”.

It concludes, referring to the need for investment, the creation of a more favorable framework for enhancing EU production capabilities as well as reduce EU dependence on third -country commercial partners with the ultimate aim of enhancing the safety and durability of medications.

Following the full text of the question

Question with a written response request to the committee

Subject: Ensure availability of critical drugs and addressing shortages in ‘Small Markets’

Access to critical medicines differs significantly from one Member State to another due to factors such as market size.

Many innovative medicinal products are not circulated or circulated with significant delays in some markets, causing inequalities among patients in the EU, while smaller Member States tend to pay higher prices.
In addition, the EU faces 33 drug deficiencies and depends on a limited number of third country suppliers for raw materials and active drugs. The consequences of this dependency were made visible during the recent Covid-19 pandemic.

The Commission is asked:

1. How will it encourage the joint supply of critical drugs and other drugs of common interest, with particular emphasis on “small markets” and if it examines the creation of a voluntary common cooperation mechanism for supplies between Member States facing similar challenges in terms of availability?
2. How will it encourage investment and creating a more favorable framework for enhancing EU production capabilities?
3. What actions will it take the direction of reducing the dependence of third -country marketers and enhancing the safety and resilience of drug supply chains?