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Breaking the deadlock to develop new antibiotics to fight antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is not getting the attention it deserves. As many as 35,000 people are now dying every year in Europe because the bacteria...

Pharmaceuticals
Letta report identifies untapped potential of Single Market for consumers

The report published today by Enrico Letta from the Jacques Delors Institute is a welcome effort to remove barriers that prevent the Single Market...

Enforcement
EU Parliament introduces improvements to pharma package without going full mile for consumers

The EU Parliament has proposed some positive changes to the pharma package, the EU’s largest reform of pharmaceutical legislation in twenty years, but...

Pharmaceuticals
European Health Data Space a compromise between healthcare needs and protecting data

The European Health Data Space agreed today by the EU institutions is a step forward to improve healthcare. However, the institutions should have...

Digital health
Keys to consumer health data should lie more with consumers

EU countries have today agreed they would prefer their governments to take many of the important decisions surrounding access to consumers’ health...

Digital health
Topics
Access to medicines
Clinical trials
Digital health
Medical devices
Pharmaceuticals
Online access to health data: EU Commission new plan benefits consumers
Online access to health data: EU Commission new plan benefits consumers
- PDF Document - 127.31 KB

Digital health
Available in English
The EU Commission plans to improve consumers’ access to their own health data, whether they are checking it online or when they need it when abroad. Today’s plans aim to improve electronic health, or ‘e-health’. The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) applauds the move as 90% of consumers would like to manage their own health data.
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New EU plan to assess medicines’ added value will benefit consumers
New EU plan to assess medicines’ added value will benefit consumers
- PDF Document - 353.89 KB

Access to medicines
Medical devices
Pharmaceuticals
Available in English
Today, the EU Commission has proposed to reinforce Member States’ collaboration when they assess the added value of health technologies, such as medicines, medical devices or surgeries. This will lead to a better use of taxpayers’ money, in turn channelling money towards more innovative treatments and research. BEUC supports the idea of joining efforts to conduct Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in Europe and highlights some requirements to make the system work for consumers.
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Time to lift the blindfold on medicine prices

Over the past years, the exorbitant prices of new medicines have been making headlines across Europe. Before a new medicine hits a national market, there are usually price negotiations between the drug manufacturer and the national authority. However, there is currently an asymmetry of information in these talks to the disadvantage of national authorities, who must largely negotiate in the dark.

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As consumers are faced with a growing amount of information from different sources, we advocate for high quality and non-promotional information about health products.

The ageing of the population, rising healthcare costs and the economic crisis are challenging the sustainability of healthcare systems and consumers’ access to treatments.

Health scandals such as the weight-loss drug Mediator and the faulty PIP breast implants keep undermining consumers’ confidence in the safety of available health products and their oversight by the competent authorities.

  • Ensure consumers have access to high quality healthcare in all EU Member States
  • Guarantee consumers benefit from safe and innovative treatments
  • Allow consumers to make informed choices regarding their health