The European Parliament is negotiating the reform of European pharmaceutical legislation. Today, a group of organizations representing patients, public health advocates and consumers want to express our concern about the progress of these negotiations are taking. We are particularly concerned about the discussion around Article 81 of the new directive, which deals with the duration of regulatory data protection periods for pharmaceutical products.
Our position is clear: we want ALL patients to have access to the medicines they need, and for these medicines to be safe and effective. All proposals to extend the maximum duration of data protection, including transferable exclusivity vouchers for new antibiotics, run counter to this objective. By extending the duration of the legal monopoly enjoyed by pharmaceutical companies, they would contribute to further increase the financial burden of pharmaceutical products on healthcare budgets and to restrict patient access to care, when the ever-increasing prices of new medicines already put them out of reach in many EU countries.
Preserving the sustainability of our public healthcare systems, whose difficult financial situation is already a source of deep concern, also means preserving the universality of access and the quality of patient care, both in the community and in hospitals. We therefore hope and trust that you, Members of the European Parliament, will put the public health and the interests of patients, healthcare users and all your fellow citizens before the interests of industry.
Co-signing organisa$ons:
Access to Medicine Ireland
AIDES
AIDS Ac.on Europe
AGE PlaXorm Europe
Asociación por un Acceso Justo al Medicamento
BUKO Pharma-Kampagne
Consilium Scien.fic
European AIDS Treatment Group
European Cancer Leagues
European Fair Pricing Network
European Haemophilia Consor.um
EPHA
European Respiratory Society
France Assos Santé
Just Treatment
NoGracias
Pharmaceu.cal Accountability Founda.on
Prescrire
Salud Por Derecho
SOMO
The Quality of Life-EKPIZO
Wemos
