Patients' access to innovative and expensive medicines and treatments will once again be on the agenda of the informal meeting of EU Health Ministers in Bucharest on Monday 15 April. This theme, initially pushed by the Netherlands in 2016, is still under discussion (see EUROPE 11463/12), but inevitably comes up against the limits of subsidiarity, with large countries showing little interest in a common approach.
The Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU intends in particular to question the ministers on possible solutions regarding patients' access to innovative therapies and the continued treatment of patients, which has clear therapeutic advantages after participation in clinical trials.
Other topics on the agenda include the implementation of the Directive on cross-border healthcare (Directive 2011/24/EU) and the mobility of young patients with rare diseases.
The main legislative dossier of the Health Council, namely that on health technology assessment, is not on the agenda, but it would not be surprising if it gave rise to bilateral discussions (see EUROPE 12214/30). It should be recalled that the Romanian Presidency is only considering a progress report on this text, which establishes “joint clinical evaluations” to determine the added value of a new drug or certain new medical devices.
The meeting will be attended by the Director-General for Health and Food Safety at the European Commission, Anne Bucher, and the Director for Strategic Partnerships of the World Health Organisation, Maria Magdalena Meulenbergs. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)