28 April 2025

As representatives of EU member states meet today to continue negotiations over the final chapters of the proposed EU Pharma Package, the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL), the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), and the International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM) are calling on governments to put patients and consumers first by ensuring affordable access to safe and effective medicines across Europe. 

The soaring costs of innovative medicines continue to put them out of reach for patients and consumers, further deepening health inequalities and putting the sustainability of healthcare systems at risk. While the debate around the EU pharma reform increasingly focuses on industrial competitiveness and strategic autonomy, the organisations stress that pharmaceutical policies must remain patient-centred and driven by public health needs.  

To that end, ECL, BEUC and AIM urge EU governments 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.  

“Treating cancer is impossible without access to affordable medication and care. The core objective of the EU pharma reform must remain clear: ensuring all cancer patients can access life-saving medicines when they need them most,” said Toma Mikalauskaitė, Policy Lead at the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL).  

“Incentives must be carefully designed to serve public health, not block it. We call on EU policy makers to ensure the Pharma Package truly delivers for patients — by promoting timely access to affordable, effective medicines and safeguarding the sustainability of our health systems,” said Loek Caubo, President of the International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM). 

Representatives of EU member states will meet again on 5 May to continue negotiations over the proposed EU Pharma Package.  

For further information, please contact Ivonne Leenen, Communications Officer at the European Cancer Leagues (ECL): ivonne@cancer.eu