EU Health Council Advances Key Pharmaceutical and Public Health Reforms

The European Union Health Council (EPSCO) will hold a session in Brussels on December 2nd focused on outstanding pharmaceutical and public health dossiers from the current legislative cycle. The meeting, chaired by Danish Minister Sophie Løhde, will concentrate on security of supply, regulatory reform, and healthcare preparedness, aiming to consolidate progress before the institutional transition expected in the coming months.

One of the most relevant issues, although it will not occupy much time for debate, will be the presentation of the cost study on the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, commissioned by the Council to the Czech Republic and other countries, whose objective is to evaluate the economic impact of the implementation of new treatment and purification obligations.

The assessment must consider not only the environmental and infrastructure costs of quaternary treatment, but also its impact on national health budgets , drug pricing, reimbursement systems, and ultimately, patients ‘ access to essential treatments. This analysis is particularly relevant for evaluating the feasibility of the proposed measures.

Meeting to Address Medicine Supply, Regulatory Reform, Wastewater Costs, and Strategic Health Initiatives Across the EU

The central item on the agenda will be the negotiation of the Critical Medicines Act , a key component of the European strategy to strengthen the availability of essential medicines. The Presidency aims to promote an agreement that will allow the final phase of talks with the European Parliament to begin . Among the aspects to be discussed are the composition of the list of critical medicines, the mechanisms for responding to shortages, and the role of national authorities in coordinating reserves and production .

The meeting will also serve to review the progress of the pharmaceutical package , which is still in the technical negotiation phase. Although it will not be addressed as a specific item, it is part of the agenda items that the Presidency has open and on which political discussions are expected. The reform raises sensitive issues regarding regulatory incentives, the availability of medicines , and the harmonization of different procedures within the internal market.

The day’s agenda will also include a review of the progress of the Cardiovascular Plan , which is part of the initiatives aimed at strengthening the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases within the European framework. The review will identify the progress achieved and guide the remaining steps for its uniform implementation across the different Member States.

Another planned topic will be the debate on ‘The European Health Union as a pillar for strengthening the Union’s competitiveness and security,’ which aims to integrate health policy into the strategic agenda for European competitiveness and autonomy. The discussion will serve to highlight the role of health preparedness, biomedical innovation , and industrial capacity in the Union’s resilience.

Spain will actively participate in several of the items included in the ‘other business’ section of the EPSCO Health session. The country is among the Member States that support the European Cardiovascular Health Plan , an initiative promoted by the Czech Republic and supported by Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain, among others.

Similarly, Spain joins the group of countries that support the European Strategy on Climate and Health, spearheaded by the Netherlands and endorsed by a broad coalition of Member States. Furthermore, Spain is co-sponsoring, along with Slovenia , the item on ‘The European Health Union as a pillar for strengthening the Union’s competitiveness and security ,’ one of the key policy debates of the day.

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First published in diariofarma. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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