E-DRUG: HAI Europe Statement- European medicines policy where it belongs
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European medicines' policy where it belongs
30 November 2009- We welcome the news confirmed at the end of last week
that pharmaceutical products and medical devices will be moved from the competence of
Directorate-General (DG) Enterprise and Industry to the health and
consumer-focused, DG SANCO in the new European Commission.
Whilst European Union (EU) Member States deal with medicines as part of
their Ministries of Health, the previous EU Commission structure was out
of synch; approaching medicines' policy from the perspective of European
industry. As medicines are intrinsically linked to public health rather
than purely commercial goals, this was a peculiar environment in which
to position pharmaceutical products and medical devices.
HAI Europe Coordinator, Teresa Alves says, "This significant move, which
HAI has supported for more than a decade, has been a long-time in coming
and we hope that it signals a shift toward rational medicines' policies
that put patients and consumers at the heart of European policymaking on
pharmaceuticals."
DG SANCO should embrace this new authority to guide changes in
medicines' policy for such an important portfolio and set out a
confident plan for sound policies that meet real public health needs in
the European Union.
The HAI Europe network will continue to work to ensure that public
health interests prevail in decision-making that affects the health and
well-being of EU citizens.
For more information, please contact:
Terri Beswick
Communications Officer
Health Action International
Overtoom 60/II
1054 HK Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 489 1077
Mobile: +31 6 3494 0978
Fax: +31 20 685 5002
Email: terri@haiweb.org <mailto:terri@haiweb.org>
Website: http://www.haiweb.org/>
This statement arises from the Developing Rational Use of Medicines in
Europe project, which has received funding from the European Union, in
the framework of the Health programme
"Terri - Louise Beswick" <Terri@haiweb.org>