Three different subjects, among them medicines, are on the agenda for the informal meeting of European health ministers, to be held on Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 April in Brussels, under the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council.
On Tuesday, 23 April, the ministers will discuss the challenges facing the healthcare workforce, while the other two debates, on the security of medicine supply on the one hand, and progress in implementing Europe’s ‘Beating Cancer Plan’ on the other, will be held the following day by the European ministers.
National healthcare systems in the European Union and around the world are facing major challenges with regard to their healthcare workforce, points out the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council, citing shortages, uneven distribution between regions, skills mismatches and the need to adapt to changing healthcare needs and technological advances. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerabilities of healthcare systems and put EU healthcare staff under unprecedented pressure. Ministers are invited to discuss EU action in this area, including the idea of a comprehensive EU health workforce strategy focusing on planning, training and better regulation to meet the evolving needs of health systems.
Medicines. In 2023, 23 Member States put forward proposals in a non-paper to strengthen the security of medicine supply within the EU (solidarity mechanism to deal with acute shortages, creation of a list of critical medicines in the Union and a Critical Medicines Act). In response, the European Commission has published a Communication outlining the measures to be taken to alleviate shortages and strengthen the security of supply of essential medicines in the EU (see EUROPE 13278/4). It provides for the creation of a Critical Medicines Alliance (a strategic framework to strengthen the security of the supply of medicines). EU health ministers will be invited to discuss the measures to be taken, including in the context of this ‘Alliance’, in terms of stockpiling, pricing and public procurement. Finally, after the meeting, the Belgian Presidency and the Commission will launch this Critical Medicines Alliance (see EUROPE 13329/4). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)