European Parliament's Health Committee meets with Commissioner Verheugen

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, which represents the research-based drugmakers in Europe, has called on  the European Parliament "to make the Commission's proposals for safe,  innovative and accessible medicines for European citizens a priority."  The group's statement appeared on the day that Enterprise and Industry  Commissioner Gunter Verheugen was due to meet with the Parliament's  Health Committee for initial exchanges on the recently-launched  Pharmaceutical Package (Marketletter December 15, 2008).

Ahead of this exchange of views, Brian Ager, the EFPIA's director  general, called upon the Parliament and member states to "act decisively  and to make the issue of patient safety a priority." He said: "it is the  responsibility of European Union decision-makers to ensure safety for  its citizens; this exchange of views provide the platform for the  European Parliament to demonstrate their commitment to this duty of  care."

The hearing marks the beginning of the review of the Pharmaceutical  Package, and is expected to be one of the few remaining occasions for  discussion before the election of a new Parliament for a five-year term.  Mr Ager argued that "this is a pivotal meeting; we have already  experienced delays in getting these measures out, this is the  opportunity to re-energize the process and give it the momentum it  deserves."