The European Parliament adopted on Wednesday 24 November the report by Dolors Montserrat (EPP, Spain) on the EU’s new pharmaceutical strategy.
The text was backed by a large majority of MEPs (527 votes in favour, 92 against and 70 abstentions), despite some criticism raised by several groups in a plenary debate on Monday about the provisions relating to the pharmaceutical industry (see EUROPE 12838/13).
The Left - with the exception of six of its members - notably followed its rapporteur, Kateřina Konečná, who had indicated that she would oppose the text. The MEP, like the Greens/EFA rapporteur, Tilly Metz (Luxembourg), would have liked stronger guarantees on the control of public funds granted to pharmaceutical companies and the use of compulsory licences.
Dolors Montserrat said the adopted report would help strengthen the Commission’s strategy, especially in the run-up to next year’s review of the EU pharmaceutical legislation.
"We must firmly tackle unmet medical needs and foster access to medicines, while making our national healthcare systems more sustainable”, she insisted on Wednesday after the vote.
To consult the adopted text: https://bit.ly/3p0QZbk (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)