By Francesca Ross - 15th April 2009
The continuation of a healthcare service based on approved products is vital when considering the commission's package of reforms for the pharmaceutical sector, deputy Cristina Gutierrez-Cortines has said.
At an EPP hearing on the role of pharmacies in providing healthcare services she sounded a warning that proposals should not lead to "a system that is product based and so churning out as many products as possible" as choosing "economics over healthcare is dangerous".
The commission says its plan to increase the flow of information regarding prescription drugs could improve awareness of disease and raise the quality of doctor-patient interactions.
However, during the discussions concerns were raised regarding the depth of the research behind the ideas presented, with Gutierrez-Cortines saying more input from society, the patient, business and the consumer was "crucial" as "only on a scientific basis can legislators do their job properly".
Included in the commission strategy are measures to tackle counterfeiting and distribution of illegal drugs, recommendations for strengthening the EU system of drug monitoring as well as the proposals to ensure access to high-quality information on prescription medicines.
Many of those in the room welcomed these recommendations, with Dr Jose Maria Esteban Fernandez of the Alicante regional government explaining that the internet legislation, in particular, was important as "internet selling is the main origin of counterfeited drugs. Around 75 per cent of offered medicines are fakes."
Although this intervention from the commission is welcomed, by far the biggest issue raised was the recent opinions the commission sent to certain member states questioning the compliance of their rules on the establishment of pharmacies.
Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain all received such documents, with Spain, for example, under scrutiny regarding its minimum population and geographical requirements for pharmacies and restrictions on pharmacy ownership.
Three of these countries have requested preliminary rulings from the European Court of Justice on this issue, which speaker Dr Edurne Navarro Varona of law firm Uría Menéndez explained could produce stronger "health policy guidance" or "possible substantial modification of EU pharmacy systems".
A ruling from the court on these issues is expected before the end of the year, when the commission will then need to decide whether competition infringement proceedings should be brought against the member states involved.
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