8 June 2021

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) plays an important role in protecting public health in the EU. The Access to Medicines Task Force of the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for a Regulation on a reinforced role for the EMA as well as the ongoing study on identifying and addressing the root causes of shortages.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the EU’s ever-increasing medicine shortages and long-standing drug supply issues, forcing the Agency to become more resilient and better equipped to tackle current and future health emergencies.

By extending the mandate and resources of the EMA, the increasing levels of medicine shortages, which pose severe threats to patient safety and outcomes, could finally be addressed in a harmonised and coordinated manner at EU level.