• allergy and immunology
• anesthesia and analgesia
• critical care
• biotechnology
• clinical medicine

On 24th November 2020, the European Commission delivered on one of the items mentioned in the mission letter of Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. The new Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe forms an essential building block for the European Health Union that was announced earlier this month. The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) and its members welcome the publication of the Pharmaceutical Strategy and its all-encompassing nature focusing on the whole life cycle of a medicine stretching from research and authorisation over its supply to the safe distribution to patients.

EAHP President Petr Horák highlighted that “Patient-centredness, which lies at the heart of all representations made by hospital pharmacists, is a key element for the delivery of high-quality, effective and safe care. Also, cooperation and communication via a structural dialogue can contribute immensely to the improvement of health and care in Europe. Since many patients are still without access to the essential medicines they need and since the COVID-19 pandemic has uncovered several problems in our system, EAHP is committed to working together with the European institutions and other stakeholders to build the European Health Union that our patients deserve.”

The new Pharmaceutical Strategy puts forward suggestions for legislative and non-legislative changes in four areas, namely:

1. Ensuring access to affordable medicines for patients and addressing unmet medical needs;

2. Supporting competitiveness, innovation and sustainability of the EU’s pharmaceutical industry and the development of high quality, safe, effective and greener medicines;

3. Enhancing crisis preparedness and response mechanisms, diversified and secure supply chains as well as addressing medicines shortages; and

4. Ensuring a strong EU voice in the world, by promoting a high level of quality, efficacy and safety standards.

Commenting on the third pillar of the Strategy, Aida Batista (EAHP Vice President and Board member working on the topic of …