Cardiovascular Health Action Plan and Mental Health Action Plan should follow a very successful Cancer Plan

“The prompt revision of the Medical Device Regulation and the adoption of a Critical Medicine Act to fight and overcome the shortage of critical medicines are top priorities of the biggest group in the European Parliament (EPP Christian Democrats) for the next parliamentary term,” this has been announced in a video conference for journalists by the health spokesperson of the group, Dr. Peter Liese. To prepare the discussion with other groups as well as the talks with the Commission, the EPP discussed the priorities in their closed meeting last week. “The Medical Device Regulation was well-intended, but in some areas, it creates more harm than good. In particular, devices for children that suffer from heart diseases, for example, are really in danger because the bureaucratic burden is so high that companies cannot afford to produce those devices that are produced only in a few numbers.” Liese recently published a comprehensive proposal for the revision that intends not to weaken the protection and the safety but the red tape.

“The biggest problem in our healthcare system in most Member States is the shortage of medicines,” Liese explained. “The Belgian Presidency has already worked on a critical medicine act, but unfortunately was not really successful. The new Commission needs to take initiatives immediately. The most important point is to change procurement so that not only the price but also the safety of the supply chain is taken into account.”

The EPP had proposed a Cancer Action Plan some years ago. This has been successfully implemented by the Commission. “The Cancer Action Plan is so successful that representatives of other diseases rightfully make the point that we need action plans in other areas. There are some leftovers from the Cancer Action Plan and that should be addressed, for example, the non-discrimination of cancer survivors. But we also need to focus on cardiovascular diseases and mental health in a separate action plan,” insisted Liese.