Competition policy essential for access to medicines
Date
29 Jan 2019
Sections
Health & Consumers
Medicines for Europe welcomes the publication of the European Commission Report on Competition Enforcement in the Pharmaceutical Sector (2009-2017).
This compilation of pharmaceutical competition law cases is part of the Health Council Conclusions of June 2016 on strengthening the balance in the pharmaceutical systems in the EU. These conclusions aim to ensure the timely availability of generic and biosimilar medicines for patient access and sustainable pharmaceutical budgets.
The report provides valuable information on how to prevent unnecessary and unlawful delays to generic and biosimilar medicines competition. Competition law scrutiny is essential to prevent misuse of the regulatory system to delay competition including the spread of misleading information to denigrate generic and biosimilar medicines in the market.
Adrian van den Hoven, Director General of Medicines for Europe, commented: “Today’s report shows the important role that competition rules play in the pharmaceutical sector. Building on the excellent work of the EC Sector Inquiry of 2009 and the results of this Report, Medicines for Europe is ready to support the European Commission and national competent authorities in removing barriers to proper competition (such as patent linkages or disparagement practices) and focus on policies and incentives to stimulate more competition in the off-patent sector. This is going to result in better access for patients and sustainable healthcare systems throughout Europe.”
About Medicines for Europe
Medicines for Europe represents the generic, biosimilar and value added medicines industries across Europe. Its vision is to provide sustainable access to high quality medicines, based on 5 important pillars: patients, quality, value, sustainability and partnership. Its members directly employ 190,000 people at over 400 manufacturing and 126 R&D sites in Europe, and invest up to 17% of their turnover in R&D investment. Medicines for Europe member companies across Europe are both increasing access to medicines and driving improved health outcomes. They play a key role in creating sustainable European healthcare systems by continuing to provide high quality, effective generic medicines, whilst also innovating to create new biosimilar medicines and bringing to market value added medicines, which deliver better health outcomes, greater efficiency and/or improved safety in the hospital setting for patients. For more information please follow us at www.medicinesforeurope.com and on Twitter @medicinesforEU.