With the number of COVID-19 patients worldwide having just passed the one million mark, Europe continues to be active in responding to the health crisis.
The Commission published, on Friday 3 April, guidelines on cross-border cooperation in response to the health crisis. According to our information, it is also considering launching a new joint procurement procedure for investigational therapeutics.
Cross-border healthcare
The guidelines urgently clarify the existing rules on cross-border cooperation in the field of healthcare, even if it means making minor adjustments.
This is notably the case for the reimbursement of costs relating to an operation carried out in another Member State: the Commission notes that while the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive provides that a patient who undergoes an operation in another Member State benefits from an authorisation from his or her country of origin, this provision is not "practical" in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. It therefore encourages the authorities to adopt a "pragmatic approach" for patients receiving urgent care, considering a "general prior authorisation". "It is recommended that it should be sufficient for the competent Member State to ensure that the patient carries a document attesting that s/he is covered at the time of hospital admission or any other practical arrangements that the Member States involved may agree upon", the guidelines state.
The paper also addresses other less controversial aspects, such as the discussion channels available to the EU to facilitate cross-border cooperation, including the sharing of qualified medical personnel. "With our advice today, we want to encourage more cross-border treatment of patients, more deployment of healthcare workers from EU countries with additional capacity where it is most needed. Solidarity saves lives", commented Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides. [guidelines: https://bit.ly/3dOLCFT ]
WHO Europe 'Response Monitor'
For their part, the Member States are not sparing any efforts either. A new platform launched by the European branch of the World Health Organization (WHO) keeps an eye on these measures. This "Health Systems Response Monitor", available only in English, compares what is being put in place to prevent transmission of the virus, ensure adequate infrastructure and workforce, provide effective health care, ensure hospital financing and patient coverage, and improve governance. This tool, for which much data are still missing, highlights significant disparities between countries in terms of screening policy. [link: https://bit.ly/2X3W86k ]
A new joint purchasing procedure?
At its daily press briefing, the European Commission reported that the EU-led joint procurement procedures were progressing well. However, "given the difficult market situation and the complexity of the markets, especially for ventilators, the expected delivery of the equipment is expected to take time", the Commission warned. Finland, on 1 April, and Iceland, on 2 April, also signed the framework agreement enabling them to participate in such an initiative.
Asked about the specific situation of the public procurement of ventilators, the spokesman for the Health Commissioner, Stefan de Keersmaecker, said that the suppliers' bids had been evaluated and draft contracts would be sent to the selected suppliers. These contracts, according to him, should be signed "soon".
According to the minutes of the Health Security Committee meeting of 30 March, the European Commission is currently surveying Member States on the possibility of launching a fourth joint public market for treatment molecules, including chloroquine, currently being studied in the 'SOLIDARITY' and 'DISCOVER' trials. [HSC report: https://bit.ly/2JzJGmP ] (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)