Brussels, 01/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - During the annual conference of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPI) on Wednesday 1 June in Brussels, the European Commissioner for industry, Günther Verheugen, presented his strategy for again making Europe the natural place for pharmaceutical innovation. The presentation by the Commissioner revolved around proposal already presented by the Commission on 6 April for reinforcing the industry and European research, as well as a new process for analysing medicine prices and patient information.
Initially, Verheugen reminded sector leaders that on 6 April he had proposed an innovation programme that would receive funding of EUR 2.6 bn (in competitiveness envelope of a total of EUR 4.2 bn for 2007-13) and which is expected to help the many SMEs and start-ups in the bio-tech sector. On the same day, his colleague Janez Potocnik, Commissioner for research presented the 7th research and development programme accounting for most collaborative research and which strengthens support for technological platforms. Even if these are controversial subjects, Verheugen wants more reflection on medicine prices (the Commission explains that this will involve giving more flexibility to industry for setting prices without threatening the ability of Member States to protect their health care budgets) - this will involve national instruments for examining cost/efficiency and direct patient information. Many subjects discussed by the G10 had been worked on previously by Erkki Liikanen but without much success. In connection with patient information, pilot projects had even been envisaged as part of the most recent revision of European pharmaceutical legislation but the European Parliament and several Member States were opposed to it. To get a result, the new Commissioner for industry is looking at a different way to deal with the tried and tested method by setting up a “High-level Pharmaceutical Forum”, which will meet once a year to examine the strategy's progress. Consisting of government representatives, MEPs, representatives from the industry and other sectors affected, this forum is expected to meet for the first time at the beginning of 2006 and could be backed up later by a reduced but permanent committee. Their conclusions could then be sent to the Parliament and Council. With this system, the Commission hopes to obtain some “concrete results” in three years time.