EU Parliament Backs Critical Medicines Act, Sparking Supply Concerns in Africa
Health Policy Watch | 21 January
The European Parliament backed the EU’s Critical Medicines Act (CMA) on Tuesday in a decisive move to secure Europe’s pharmaceutical supply chains from geopolitical shocks. With an overwhelming majority of 503 votes in favour, 57 against, and 108 abstentions, MEPs endorsed a sweeping industrial policy designed to re-shore the production of active ingredients (API’s), critical medicines and essential drugs like antibiotics and insulin.
While the vote marks a major step toward European “health sovereignty,” critics warn that the EU’s push for resilience could inadvertently drain global supply, drive up prices for essential drugs, and undercut Africa’s emerging pharma industry.