The EU has moved to ensure that “crucial medicinal products” are available in the future.
This comes in the wake of the crippling pandemic that killed tens of thousands of EU citizens and devastated economies throughout Europe.
Following recommendations to ensure sufficient supply of antibiotics published earlier this week, the EU Commission, through the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, says it is taking “immediate follow-up actions”.
This, it says, aims “to ensure the availability of crucial medicinal products in cooperation with the industry.”
The HERA Board has met this week with industry representatives to discuss antibiotic shortages and the secure and continued availability of those medicinal products.
Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “Working to find solutions to ensure the sufficient supply of key antibiotics ahead of next winter is a key priority for us.”
She added, “With HERA, we have taken immediate action to follow up on this work with the industry.”
“Our main objective is to ensure that all citizens have immediate access to the antibiotics they need this winter. Engaging with industry partners is essential to understand how we can best help on the ground.”
During the meeting this week, HERA presented to industry representatives the outcomes of the monitoring of supply and demand.
The main objective of the meeting was to foster an open exchange of perspectives, insights, and potential strategies to effectively implement the recommendations.
Namely this includes: increasing the production of key antibiotics; monitor supply and demand; and increasing public awareness and prudent use.
Industry members were “reminded of their responsibility to ensure the adequate and continued supply of medicines they place on the EU market.”
The Commission and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) say they will continue to closely monitor the situation.
A joint statement said they will “interact with companies” over the summer before the next EMA Executive Steering Group on Shortages and Safety of Medicinal Products (MSSG) and HERA Board meetings in mid-September.
