Seán Kelly MEP: ‘Europe must secure access to medicines’
What happens when your local pharmacy can no longer provide the life-saving medicine you rely on, ask Seán Kelly MEP for Ireland south and Fine Gael leader in the European Parliament, and Tomislav Sokol, Croatian MEP and EPP Group spokesman on public health.
For years, Ireland and other EU Member States have been confronted with serious medicine shortages. Every week, pharmacists across the EU spend too many hours trying to secure vital medicines such as antibiotics, painkillers, and insulin – essential daily medicines that people cannot do without.
In fact, over 30 critical medicines are in ongoing short supply, according to the European Medicines Agency. Despite years of efforts, Europe is still grappling with alarming medicine shortages, and the situation is becoming increasingly urgent.
The EU’s fragmented health systems, overdependence on imports, and lack of coordination during crises have left shelves empty and patients vulnerable. It is now clear that simply urging Member States to act is no longer enough.
Tackling shortages and ensuring access to critical medicines is a priority for the EPP Group. To achieve this, we have urged the Commission several times to address the root causes of medicine shortages and to better monitor supply at the national and EU levels. While health is primarily a national competence, we firmly believe there is much that the EU can and must do to reduce this alarming problem.
That is why we, in the EPP Group, strongly support the European Commission’s proposal to strengthen Europe’s medicines supply chain through the Critical Medicines Act (CMA). With the CMA, we believe we are taking a step in the right direction: it represents an opportunity for Europe to reinforce its pharmaceutical resilience by strengthening its pharmaceutical industry and supply chains.
“Stronger cooperation at the EU level will be essential to achieving true health security.”
The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most important strategic economic sectors for the European Union. However, Europe is heavily dependent on third countries for supplies of medicines and their ingredients, particularly for cheaper generic drugs. This overreliance has made EU supply chains more vulnerable, a vulnerability further exacerbated by current geopolitical tensions, where any disruption can lead to shortages across Europe. With this in mind, we believe it is crucial to boost medicine production in Europe.
Crucially, funding must also be addressed. We must change how medicines are purchased across Europe and ensure that price is not the only factor; availability and security must also be considered. We welcome the mechanisms, particularly financial support and the acceleration of administrative procedures for strategic projects, which will facilitate the construction of medicine manufacturing plants on European soil. We also support the joint procurement of critical medicines, which is particularly important for smaller member states, as it strengthens their negotiating power and ensures better procurement conditions. EU patients must have access to the medicines they need at an affordable price.
We cannot act alone. Stronger cooperation at the EU level will be essential to achieving true health security. The EPP Group calls for increased support for the pharmaceutical industry to promote research and innovation in medicine development and healthcare. At the same time, we must strive to enhance the EU’s competitiveness within the global pharmaceutical sector, so we continue to attract investment, encourage innovation, and create new jobs.
No European should fear missing their essential medicine in a moment of need. With stronger EU cooperation and new laws like the Critical Medicines Act, we can contribute to ensuring our shelves stay stocked and our citizens stay safe.
