EU options for improving access to medicines

On October 12, the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) committee will consider the new draft report on medicines access.

A number of parliamentary resolutions and Council conclusions have drawn the attention to the specific nature of the pharmaceutical market, highlighting the need for a debate and for measures to be taken in this regard. The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most competitive sectors in Europe with a 20% return on investment, generating 800.000 jobs and producing an output of approximately 200 billion euros ($223.6 billion) each year.