At the EPSCO Council meeting today, Health Ministers adopted Council conclusions on promoting cardiovascular health in the EU, Council conclusions on transplantation and organ donation, and discussed measures to promote competitiveness and move forward on the Pharmaceutical Package. Health Minister Válek also met with EU Health Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi.
In the context of the health part of Draghi's report on competitiveness, the Czech Republic supports the simplification of the EU regulatory framework, both the shortening of the time for assessing applications for marketing authorisation of medicines and medical devices, the computerisation of the whole process, and the introduction of electronic and multilingual package leaflets. To improve the competitiveness of the EU, the Czech Republic prepared a proposal on incentives for the pharmaceutical industry in the framework of the Pharmaceutical Package negotiations, in which we emphasise support for the production of medicines in the EU. Alongside this, measures beyond the Pharmaceutical Package, such as joint purchasing of medicines within the EU, were addressed. The main objective is to increase the availability and safety of medicines for patients in the European Union.
"The European Union must do its utmost for its competitiveness and self-sufficiency in pharmaceuticals. To improve this, we will put forward a proposal on incentives for the pharmaceutical industry in the Pharmaceutical Package, which emphasises the promotion of the production of medicines in Europe, which will help to increase the resilience of supply chains and thus the availability of medicines for patients in Member States. I am confident that together Member States will find a balanced solution that respects the needs of patients, health systems and the pharmaceutical industry," said the Minister of Health Vlastimil Válek.
Cardiovascular disease is one of the biggest threats to the health of our citizens in Europe. The forthcoming EU Action Plan on Cardiovascular Disease is such a crucial document. Factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease are still relevant in the Czech Republic. Therefore, the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with professional societies, has also prepared a National Cardiovascular Plan for the period 2025-2035. Its aim is to set out the main strategic objectives for ensuring more effective healthcare, including prevention, particularly in the field of cardiovascular diseases. The Ministry of Health will share the planned measures and Czech experience with European colleagues so that at least minimum standards of approach to cardiovascular disease management are set uniformly across the EU.
"With significant experience in successfully addressing drug shortages and implementing solutions in national legislation, the Czech Republic is one of the leaders in developing these recommendations. For example, the system for monitoring and managing stocks of medicines in case of limited availability at the level of pharmacies, distributors and marketing authorisation holders, which has been in place since June, would, if implemented at the European level, significantly help the efficient functioning of the pharmaceutical market and reduce the impact of limited availability of medicines on patients." added the Deputy Minister of Health Jakub Dvoracek.
The intention to update the Action Plan for Organ Donation and Transplantation has also received Czech and EU-wide support. The Czech Republic has one of the most elaborate systems in this area and is therefore ready to participate in the steps in this matter. It is also necessary to strengthen cross-border cooperation and to work together to harmonise the EU framework, with an emphasis on ensuring transparency and equality of access. At the same time, it is essential to preserve ethical principles and national specificities.
The meeting also included the topic of short- and long-term measures to secure the supply of medicines in the EU, which is a follow-up to the June EPSCO Council meeting. At that meeting, Mr. Válek He opened the issue of excessive stockpiling of medicines, which could have an impact on the unavailability of medicines in another Member State. The Czech Republic fully supports the intention to establish common rules at the EU level, which should be a guideline for the development of national measures.
"Today's discussions were very constructive and I very much appreciate the progress in a number of areas. I look forward to working with the new Commissioner, with whom I was one of the first EU Health Ministers and we agreed to work closely together. I am ready to play an active role in developing EU-wide action in the areas of organ donation and transplantation and in the fight against cardiovascular disease. The Czech Republic has great experience and expertise in both areas, as well as in steps to ensure the availability of medicines, where we are already actively involved in the development of pan-European recommendations." Válek said.
top09.cz / wages/gnews.cz-jav_07
English 
Czech 
Spanish 
French 
Italian