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| Mon 4 November 2024 | View online Estimated reading time: 4-5 minutes |
| | 🟡Commissioner-designate hearings |
| | French S&D members worry about the health portfolio going to ‘an Orbán ally’ |
| On Thursday, 31 October, the French delegation of the S&D group expressed concerns regarding the possible appointment of Hungarian Olivér Várhelyi as the next potential European Commissioner for Health.
French socialists, who deplore “the rightward shift of the College, reflecting, unfortunately, the European political landscape,” are particularly worried that the health portfolio, including reproductive health, might be entrusted to “an ally of Orbán”.
"We will pay attention to several things. On reproductive health, we’ll remind him of the government he comes from and who appointed him, and what that means in terms of abortion rights for women, support for transgender people, and the LGBT community. In short, what Orbán denies to his own population and stigmatises,” Head of the French S&D delegation, Nora Mebarek MEP, told Euractiv.
The French socialists also wish to bring to the table the issue of the future possible full-fledged health committee (SANT) of the European Parliament. “If health becomes a full-standing committee, what will its relationship be with pharmaceutical companies? How will he guarantee us public service with European support, or even a reduction in drug prices?" said Mebarek.
The French socialists are not alone in their concerns. As noted in our October 31 Health pro briefing, the EPP also expects an intense hearings.
“We really need to wait for the hearing and see how strongly he shows that he has vision, not only on medicine and broader health policy, but also on animal welfare. And then we will definitely take some time to assess that hearing. I don’t think it will be an easy assessment,” warned German MEP Peter Liese (EPP).
Várhelyi’s hearing is set for 6 November. [TM] Back to the top |
| | | | Generic companies face significant barriers to fair trade outside the EU |
| Medicines for Europe, which represents the generic, biosimilar and value-added medicines industries, has launched a report highlighting the barriers that EU producers face in countries outside the EU.
The report looks at 11 key countries, including the US, China, Türkiye and Indonesia. The main barriers include public procurement rules, including the prioritising of local manufacturing, complex regulatory barriers, price controls and reimbursement policies and intellectual property rules, among others.
A more assertive EU trade policy: Adrian van den Hoven, Director General at Medicines for Europe says that the EU must do more to support an open and fair system and “assertively address market access barriers and the enforcement of trade commitments.”
“We hope that this study will contribute to achieving strategic trade and partnership objectives in the next Commission mandate. The goal must be to foster better and faster patient access to generic and biosimilar medicines in third countries and create new growth opportunities for EU-based generic and biosimilar pharmaceutical companies,” said Medicines for Europe International Affairs Committee Chair David Jauch.
Something for the EU Critical Medicines Act? “The report clearly shows that our trading partners are taking action to support the off-patent medicines sector, something to be reflected in the EU Critical Medicines Act that will support European companies on the global trade stage,”he said. [CF] Back to the top |
| | | | European Cancer Organisation sets out 16 recommendations to address gender inequalities |
| The European Cancer Organisation (ECO) estimates that 12 million women in Europe are currently living with cancer and that nearly 600,000 are dying from it annually.
To mark ‘European Gender Equality Week’ ECO has published a report on women and cancer. The report identifies 16 recommendations to address gender issues in cancer.
“Our report highlights the human impacts when we fail to respond to the gender elements of cancer prevention and treatment,” said Dr Isabel Rubio, Co-chair of the European Cancer Organisation’s Women & Cancer Workstream. “For example, far too many women across Europe are denied access to cancer screening, fertility preservation services and the quality cancer treatment they deserve.”
Among the recommendations, the ECO calls for an end to irresponsible gendered marketing by the tobacco and alcohol industries; access to breast and gynaecological cancer screening, as an undisputed women’s right; and fertility preservation counselling and services for all women affected by cancer. Read more here. [CF] Back to the top |
| | | | WHO hopes it can seal pandemic agreement before the end of the year |
| The twelfth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to agree on a WHO instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response starts today and is tabled to continue until 15 November.
Before the end of 2024? Derek Bolton, WHO’s legal counsel said that in order to trigger the process which would lead to a special session before the end of the year, it would have to be signalled by Monday 11 November, “to put in place the machinery that would lead to a special session before the end of the year.”
If not before the end of the year, it is hoped that agreement can be reached by next year’s May WHO annual Health Assembly.
WHO Director Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness & Prevention, Maria Van Kerkhove, said that they were hoping that an agreement will be finalized as soon as possible, “because we are witnessing outbreak and emergencies that are happening right now.”
“Most of the agreement is agreed. There are some points that are left to come through,so we're quite hopeful for next week that a lot of that text will be ‘greened’ and that they will move forward,” she said.
Equity: Director-General of the World Health Organization Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pressed for great equity, “If the world has failed with one thing, during Covid-19, it was the equity issue, and that has to be addressed.”
“Africa, was left behind then, and that should not happen,” he said. “Global agreements, international agreements actually take a lot of time, a decade or even more sometimes. So they're doing well, and we have to recognize that.”
“An outright lie”: Tedros condemned allegations, “flying around”, about states having to give up sovereignty in any deal, he described this as “an outright lie”, saying that any deal would be negotiated by the member states, for the member state and would be implemented based on their national laws. [CF] Back to the top |
| | Top UN agencies describe situation in North Gaza is ‘apocalyptic’ |
| Leaders of 15 United Nations and humanitarian organizations have urged all parties fighting in Gaza to protect civilians, and call on the State of Israel to cease its assault on Gaza and on the humanitarians trying to help, describing the situation in North Gaza as ‘apocalyptic’.
“The area has been under siege for almost a month, denied basic aid and life-saving supplies while bombardment and other attacks continue. Just in the past few days, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and thousands have once again been forcibly displaced,” they state. “The entire Palestinian population in North Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence.”
UNRWA: Director-General of the World Health Organization Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a briefing on Friday that there was no alternative to UNRWA, “Israel’s decision to restrict UNRWA’s operations contravenes Israel’s obligations and responsibilities and jeopardizes the lives and health of all who depend on these essential services.”
“This ban will not make Israel safer, it will only deepen the suffering of the people of Gaza.”
Polio: The statement came a day ahead of the third phase of the polio vaccination campaign set to begin in the North after being postponed last week due to intense bombardment, evacuation orders, and lack of access.
Even though a humanitarian pause was assured, it was violated. On Saturday, Tedros issued a further statement condemning an attack, during the humanitarian pause, saying, this, “jeopardises the sanctity of health protection for children and may deter parents from bringing their children for vaccination.” [CF] Back to the top |
| | | | Countries endorse ‘Preparedness 2.0’ plan at WHO Europe Regional Committee |
| The WHO Europe Regional Committee adopted a revised plan for health emergencies, dubbed Preparedness 2.0, at its assembly in Copenhagen on Thursday (31 October).
Last week’s floods in Valencia, Spain were at the forefront of member states’ minds as a reminder of the necessity of an EU-wide preparedness action plan to mitigate casualties. “We are deeply saddened to hear of the catastrophic floods impacting Spain, which has brought tragic loss,” said Hans Kluge, highlighting the frontline healthcare workers facing challenges in the region.
Preparedness 2.0 builds upon lessons learned from past crises, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, and takes into account the compounding threats posed by climate change, conflict, and emerging diseases.
Some changes from the last plan include a dual-track approach which will ‘maintain essential health services while responding to immediate emergency needs,’ improve access to countermeasures, community protection, safe and scalable care, and enhance collaborative surveillance of outbreaks. Most countries were supportive, except for Russia, who stated that it would impose unnecessary red tape. [EP] Back to the top |
| | 🟡 European health data space |
| | EU agency launches call for tenders to help users reap the benefits of health data |
| Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) has launched a call for tenders under the EU4Health programme aimed at helping key stakeholders meet the requirements and technical specifications of the European Health Data Space (EHDS).
The European Health Data Space (EHDS) has two main objectives. The first is to give EU-citizens access and control of their digital health data and use it both nationally and across borders, the so-called primary use; and secondly it is to facilitate the use of personal health data for research, innovation and policymaking purposes, the so-called secondary use.
The tender is aimed at helping stakeholders with secondary use, where it is thought that help will be needed in meeting legal and technical requirements of the legislation, in order to “provide, process, and reuse health data.” Find more information about the call for tenders here. The deadline is 17 January. [TM and CF] Back to the top |
| | | | | Bulgaria reports 27% increase in antibiotic use, leading to fears of rising AMR-related deaths |
| Bulgaria - Bulgaria is risking an increase in deaths caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens, following a 27% rise in antibiotic use over the past five years.
The Bulgarian Ministry of Health, which provided the data to Euractiv, is pushing for funding for a targeted programme to inform citizens about the risks of antibiotic overuse.
The EU regulation on serious cross-border threats to health (2022/2371) considers antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to be one of the most pressing health threats, requiring national prevention, preparedness and response plans.
Euractiv was told by the Ministry of Health that it has "informed the Ministry of Finance of the need to provide additional funding for a National Action Programme against Antimicrobial Resistance until 2027."
In 2023, 26.3 daily doses of antibiotics per 1,000 people were used in Bulgaria, while the EU average remained at 20.09. This amounts to a 27% over five years. Bulgaria is the only country in the EU which has experienced a sharp increase in antibiotic use over the last five years.
The COVID-19 pandemic contributed significantly to the rise in antibiotic consumption. However, use remained high even after the acute phase passed.
Only Greece (28.5%) and Romania (27.4) report higher levels of antimicrobial use. Still, in Greece, there has been a decline over the last five years, while in Romania, levels are stable, and the pandemic wasn't followed by an increase in consumption.
Data from the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases show that Bulgaria is experiencing growing resistance to all classes of antibiotics, including the next generation of drugs not yet registered in the country, such as cefiderocol, plazomicin and eravacycline. Read the full story here. [EM and KN] Back to the top |
| | Belgian MEP calls for an EU women’s health strategy, says EU pharma reform can go further |
| Belgium - Belgian MEP Estelle Ceulemans (S&D) says the EU needs to promote women’s health and to further revise the EU Pharma Package.
Ceulemans, the S&D coordinator on the EMPL Committee and member of ENVI and SANT emphasised the urgency of addressing health inequalities and prioritising access to affordable, quality healthcare in the EU.
In a recent interview with Euractiv, she underscored the need to tackle social and economic health determinants, like medical deserts, cancer prevention, and mental health, within a comprehensive EU health strategy.
Highlighting the gender dimension of health inequalities, Ceulemans pointed to gaps in women’s health data, misdiagnosis in cardiovascular conditions, and limited access to reproductive health services in some Member States. “All this speaks in favour of an EU Women’s Health Strategy,” she told Euractiv. Read the full story here. [NV] Back to the top |
| | | | | | | | Commissioner-designate hearings begin |
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| | 4 -15 November, Intergovernmental Negotiating Body Pandemic Agree. |
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| | | | | Commissioner-designate hearings 9:00 Ekaterina Zaharieva (Bulgaria, EPP), the proposed Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation. |
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| | Heads of Medicines Agencies multi-stakeholder workshop on artificial intelligence (AI) - enabling the safe and responsible use of AI |
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| | Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) |
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| | 4 -15 November, INB, Pandemic Agreement, Geneva |
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| | | | Commissioner-designate hearings 9:00 Hadja Lahbib (Belgium, Renew), Preparedness and Crisis Management, Equality 18:30 Olivér Várhelyi (Hungary) Health and Animal Welfare |
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| | INB, Pandemic Agreement, Geneva |
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| | Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT): 6-8 November |
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| | Medicine Shortages Single Point of Contact (SPOC) Working Party |
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| | | | Working Party on Public Health |
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| | Working Party on Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices |
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| | #EUHPP Live Webinar: Towards an EU Coordination Plan for the Brain |
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| | INB, Pandemic Agreement, Geneva |
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| | | | Informal European Council of heads of government, Budapest |
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| | INB, Pandemic Agreement, Geneva |
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| | | | | | Today’s brief was brought to you by Euractiv’s Health team |
| | | | | Today’s briefing was prepared by the Health team: Catherine Feore, Clara Bauer-Babef, Emma Pirnay, Thomas Mangin, and Lydia Williams. Additional reporting by Emiliya Milcheva, Krassen Nikolov and Nicole Verbeeck. Share your feedback or information with us at [email protected]. |
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