27 May 2026

New report shows 37-year-old rules fail to address net price transparency, hindering equitable access, accountability, and fair competition.

The Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) has published a new report examining the effectiveness of the EU’s Transparency Directive and concludes it is no longer fit for purpose. A framework designed in 1989 has become disconnected from today’s pharmaceutical landscape, leaving cancer patients across Europe facing unequal access to treatment due to opaque pricing, confidential discounts, and complex reimbursement processes.

To address these challenges, ECL’s Access to Medicines Task Force puts forward five concrete recommendations — covering price transparency, Managed Entry Agreements, biosimilars and generics, public communication, and evidence quality in reimbursement decisions.

Read the full report below or click here to download.