7 June 2021

The Access to Medicines Task Force of the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) welcomes the reflection paper on forecasting demand for medicinal products in the EU/EEA jointly developed by the European Commission, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the Head of Medicine Agencies (HMA) and issued on 3 June 2021.

The EU Executive Steering Group on Shortages of Medicines Caused by Major Events supports the strategy of forecasting demand for human medicines used in the EU and at the national level in exceptional circumstances like the COVID-19 pandemic. ECL strongly encourage demand-forecasting not only during crisis but also in non-emergency situations, as medicine shortages negatively impact on treatment outcomes and patient safety, no matter what caused them.