Incentives needed for small market pharmaceutical supply, Health Minister Kanari tells EU counterparts

Minister for Health, Popi Kanari, underlined the need to give incentives to ensure supply of pharmaceutical products in small markets such as Cyprus, during the second day of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of the EU, which was held on Tuesday in Brussels in its Health Ministers configuration.

This was Kanari's first participation in the Council of the EU since taking office.

The main issues discussed were a proposal regarding a draft law on fees and charges payable to the European Medicines Agency, the new European Union Global Health Strategy, medicine shortages in some member states, the management of long-term side effects of COVID-19 (long COVID) and the implementation of contracts for the supply of coronavirus vaccines.

In her intervention during the debate on fees payable to the EMA, Kanari welcomed the targeted approach proposed by the Swedish Presidency of the Council. She also referred specifically to the need to provide incentives for placing pharmaceutical products in small markets such as Cyprus.

Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides informed the Health Ministers on behalf of the Commission on the implementation of the new Regulations on medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices. Ministers were also updated on the progress of the negotiations for the conclusion of an international agreement against pandemics, which are currently underway within the World Health Organisation.

During the discussion on the new EU Global Health Strategy, the Minister of Health expressed Cyprus' support, and added that the holistic implementation of the new Strategy will highlight the EU's leading role and its readiness to make a decisive contribution to effectively addressing existing and future health crises.

In the margins of the Council, Kanari also had a bilateral meeting with Dr. Andrea Ammon, Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), with whom they exchanged views on issues of prevention and control of infectious diseases, as well as the potential for increased cooperation.

(Source: CNA)