EU Critical Medicines Act Nudges Closer As Parliament Adopts Position

The European Parliament Plenary has overwhelmingly supported the Institution’s proposed Critical Medicines Act.

Among the provisions that MEPs supported were the creation of industrial “strategic projects'” located in the EU. These are intended to create, modernise, and improve manufacturing capacity in the EU. The proposal also seeks to see both the EU and the competent national authorities in individual EU Member States prioritise financial support for strategic projects in the current budget and the EU’s next multiannual financial framework. Companies benefiting from public financial support would be required to meet clear obligations, including prioritising supply of products to the EU market.

The proposal adopted by the European Parliament would also require contracting authorities in the EU to apply procurement requirements that favour producers manufacturing a significant proportion of the critical medicines in the EU. The proposal also highlights the benefits of voluntary cross-border procurement, intended to improve supply, notably for rare disease medicines, antimicrobials, and other innovative, high-cost, or specialised treatments.

To better anticipate and manage shortages, the proposal also contemplates the creation of an EU coordination mechanism for national stockpiles and contingency stocks of critical medicines, with the European Commission having the power to decide on appropriate redistribution of medicinal products from one national stockpile to one or more other countries where a shortage or a supply disruption has been identified.