Transparency

[Joint Press Statement] Access to medicines in Europe: The EU cannot save banks while sacrificing people’s health

Brussels, 17 May – In a seminar hosted yesterday by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament and the Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Alejandro Cercas (S&D, Spain), six MEPs from various political groups (1) along with representatives of governments, leading academics, researches and public health organisations (2) met to raise awareness about one of the most alarming issues that European healthcare systems (...)

[Seminar report] Can EU Citizens Afford Their Medicines?

This high level meeting revolved around various political processes linked to the economic crisis. Some of the topics discussed include implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy, as well as pharmaceutical legislation for ensuring that people living in Europe have access to a wide range of quality and affordable medicines. The meeting hosted by Mr Alejandro Cercas, MEP (Spain,S&D) and by the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D Group) served to assess the impact (...)

Clinical trials: Exploring the limits of transparency

Glenis Willmott MEP (S&D, UK) took the initiative to bring together experts to discuss the extent to which more transparency could be workable in non-commercial clinical trials. The debate, which took place in the European Parliament on 10 April, served to present the key arguments for and against increased transparency in the context of administrative and data reporting requirements for academic researchers and patient safety. EPHA’s Position on Clinical Trials urges political (...)

EP resolution underlines the need for action on medicines access problem

On 18 April, the European Parliament (EP) voted on a Resolution on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on human rights. The resolution highlighted some of the global impacts of the crisis on the right to health. EPHA applauds the EP’s recognition of the multiple impacts of the crisis on ordinary people and the need to further champion public health across Europe. The Resolution states that "the rising price of medicines (by up to 30%) is having a negative impact on the (...)

Can Health Impact Assessment methods be used to tackle global health equity?

A recent survey has examined if current health impact assessment (HIA) methods could be used to tackle global health equity. The poll shows that HIA do not address the issue of equity adequately. Existing HIAs will therefore require new, more sensitive tools measurements. The study looks at whether health equity impact assessments can be used to measure economic agreements, market regulation, and public policies. The results has proven that in current HIAs, equity is not addressed (...)

Problems with medicine shortages - European Pharmaceutical Students Association (EPSA) Annual Reception 2013

On 21 February 2013, EPHA attended the European Pharmaceutical Students Association (EPSA) Annual Reception at the European Parliament, entitled “Health Inequalities – Access to Medicines”. The event was hosted by MEP Elena Oana ANTONESCU (Romania, EPP) and MEP Marisa Matias (Portugal, GUE/NGL). The EPSA reception brought together experts from the pharmaceutical arena, health professionals, as well as patients associations. The following speakers took part in the panel: (...)

The Lancet to launch Europe series on determinants of population health and effects of health policy

In recent years the Lancet, a world-class medical journal, has drawn attention to important developments in health and health policy taking place in parts of the world that would otherwise risk being overlooked, publishing a series of articles that examine, in depth, what is happening in countries such as China, Mexico, Brazil and Japan. Now, it is coming home. Looking at what is happening on its own doorstep, in the continent of Europe, a series of articles will be undertaken in (...)

European Parliament adopts draft proposal on Medicines Pricing directive

On February 6, the European Parliament voted on a draft report about a proposal relating to the transparency of measures regulating the prices of medicinal products for human use and their inclusion in the scope of public health insurance systems. The report was adopted in the parliamentarian plenary with 559 votes in favor, 54 against and 72 abstentions. As EPHA published this week, “Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have been demanding more transparency on medicine (...)

MEPs demand more transparency on medicine pricing

More transparency was demanded by MEPs at the last ENVI meeting on 18 December 2012 concerning the time limits for decision-making on pricing and reimbursement of medicines to ensure and improve access of patients to new medicines. MEPs recommended a 60-day time limit to decide on the pricing and reimbursement of generic medicines. Concerning new medicines, products will have to respect the current timeline of 180 days. A substantial number of amendments were adopted as demonstrated in the (...)

The Brussels Business Online Game - Step inside the black box

Corporate Europe Observatory and the makers of the documentary film The Brussels Business, the docu-thriller that zooms in on Brussels’ lobbying scene and features the work of ALTER-EU’s steering committee, are about to launch a very interesting, interactive web application. This application, or rather online game, enables citizens to engage in a dialogue with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) about topics that are about to be put to the vote. So far the project is (...)