Slovenia hosts a meeting of the European Union Health Ministers (EU). The main topic of the meeting was the discussion of the recommendations of the European Commission on the tightening of European legislation in the field of drug supply and their components from “autocracy”.
After the crisis of the supply system in medicine last year, the deputies of the European Parliament and other officials of the EU were concerned about the state of pharmaceutical independence of the European Union member countries. At the moment, according to the European Commission, two thirds of the supplies come to India and China. The change in the rules should be aimed at reducing the EU dependence on drug components produced outside Europe.
“Imagine the world in which vaccines would be developed only in China or Russia, and Western democracies would depend on these autocracy in this matter. It would hardly have been a good world,” said German Health Minister Yens Scpp. A friendly discussion source reports that the new rules also recommend purchasing companies to have a crisis plan for the case of deliveries.
After a positive vote on the Environment Commission, public health and food safety, the amendments to legislation will be discussed at the November session all deputies of the European Parliament.