A call on EU countries to ensure access to affordable medicines  

28 April 2025

The high cost of innovative medicines often puts them out of reach, exacerbating access disparities across Europe and putting the sustainability of healthcare systems at risk. 

When negotiating the EU Pharma Package, governments across the European Union must seize this key opportunity to improve affordable access to safe and effective medicines for all patients and consumers. As the public debate is placing a greater focus on industry competitiveness and strategic autonomy, we would like to recall that pharmaceutical policies must be primarily patient-centred and demand-driven. As such, the health, well-being, and ability for patients to access the products and services they need at affordable prices should remain the central concern.  

To achieve this, we call on EU member states to: 

• Reduce the baseline regulatory data protection (RDP) period, currently set at 8 years, to allow for earlier entry of generics and biosimilars into the market, saving European health systems approximately €1.13 billion annually. 

• Set up a modulated system of incentives allowing additional periods of RDP to reward efforts from the European pharmaceutical sector that bring high societal and healthcare value, with a cap of 8 years. 

• Improve availability and affordability of medicines in all EU countries, promoting competition and reducing access disparities. 

This approach would strike a fair balance between supporting pharmaceutical innovation that addresses societal needs and promoting affordable access for patients in Europe as well as sustainable healthcare systems.

Click here to read the joint statement signed by the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL), the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), and the International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM).

Click here to read our press release.