Healthcare and austerity

Investment in digital health and access to drugs at the core of Austrian Presidency

Austria’s EU Presidency will focus on “strong” investment in digital health as well as on regulatory issues when it comes to access to medicines, Dr Clemens Martin Auer told EURACTIV.com in an interview. Dr Clemens Martin Auer is the president of the...

Greek business chief: Novartis scandal must be dealt with quickly to avoid ‘social eruption’

The Novartis scandal in Greece exists and the people responsible for it should be dealt with quickly in order to avoid a “social eruption”, Greek business leader Konstantinos Michalos told EURACTIV.com in an interview.

Greek politicians face probe in pharma bribery scandal

The Greek parliament decided on 21 February to establish a special committee that will investigate the role of politicians in the alleged Novartis scandal, a case that analysts claim will shake up the country’s political system.

Pharma scandal whips up political storm in Greek opposition ranks

A probe into illegal practices of Swiss drugmaker Novartis in Greece, involving thousands of state officials and doctors, has opened the Pandora’s Box in Greek politics as local media have named ten former bigwigs from opposition parties as being targeted by the investigation.

EU southern alliance on drug pricing expands

Slovenia joined the “Valletta Declaration”, an alliance of southern EU member states, which aims to explore strategies to jointly negotiate prices with the pharma industry, as well as Croatia with an observer status. 

Drug pricing debate to take place in heated atmosphere

Following a Greek government request, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) will discuss on Friday (8 December) a recent dispute between Athens and ROCHE, a Swiss multinational company, over the latter’s decision to withdraw a cancer drug from the market.

Europe’s excluded are falling through the cracks of healthcare

Whether it is an elderly German man who lost his job or a young boy that reached Europe fleeing war at home, Europe’s excluded are falling through the cracks of healthcare systems, writes Médecins du Monde.

Pharmaceutical company gives free access to drug after clash with Greek government

Following a clash with the Greek government over its decision to withdraw a cancer drug from the market, ROCHE, a Swiss multinational company, ultimately decided to make the drug available to patients for free.

Greek government on collision course with pharmaceutical companies over innovative drugs

Several pharmaceutical companies in Greece have threatened to stop supplying the market with innovative drugs and said they could even withdraw existing drugs as a result of an obligatory “discount” imposed by the Greek government and applied retroactively.

Patients: ‘Think carefully’ before questioning orphan drugs’ incentives

Organisations of patients with rare diseases have warned EU policymakers to “think carefully” before reviewing the incentives in the orphan drugs regulation, claiming that the pharma industry should not be discouraged from investing in new therapies.

Pharma boss: Targeting drugs won’t make healthcare systems more sustainable

“Salami-slicing” the cost of medicines, which represent almost one-fifth of health system budgets and are subject to rigorous value assessments, won’t make healthcare systems more sustainable in the future, Nathalie Moll told EURACTIV.com in an interview.

EU agency OK’d 39 cancer drugs without evidence they work, study shows

The European Medicines Agency approved 39 new cancer drugs between 2009 and 2013 despite having no evidence that they worked, unnecessarily exposing patients to toxicity, researchers said Thursday (5 October).

Antibiotic resistance is the best case for ‘more Europe’

No country alone can tackle antimicrobial resistance and therefore an effective EU response is needed, backed up by policies and funds, writes Nina Renshaw.

Alcohol makers brace for EU-wide mandatory labelling

Makers of spirits and beer are exploring self-regulatory solutions to show consumers the ingredients contained in the alcohol they drink. However, they find the Commission's timeline "too tight" and fear mandatory rules will eventually be imposed on them.

Report finds human rights abuses in Europe’s nursing homes

Ahead of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day tomorrow (15 June), a new report heats up the discussion about the conditions of the elderly in Europe’s nursing homes.

Commission opens first investigation into excessive drug pricing

The European Commission announced yesterday (15 May) that it opened a formal investigation into Aspen Pharma's pricing practices for cancer drugs.

Southern EU states present unified front in drug talks

Six southern member states have signed a common declaration, aiming to enhance their cooperation and jointly negotiate with the pharmaceutical industry on drug pricing.

Greece creates e-platform to tackle corruption in healthcare

Greece's health ministry announced this week the creation of an electronic platform designed to tackle corruption in the healthcare system and protect patients’ “dignity”.

Turning back the clock on EU health protection is unthinkable

As we debate the future of Europe, the EU must not abandon public health, writes Nina Renshaw.

Commission launches reference networks to face rare and complex diseases

In an effort to combat rare diseases and improve patient accessibility, the European Commission launched the European Reference Networks (ERNs) yesterday (28 February).

Greek pharma boss: Patients are punished when innovation is penalised

Patients are “punished” due to a lack of innovation-driven structural reforms in a crisis-hit public health system, the head of the Greek pharma industry said in an interview with Euractiv Greece.

Lawmakers warn EU pharma industry about drug pricing

Pressure is mounting on pharmaceutical companies to reconsider the way they do business by refocusing their efforts on meeting patient needs and health outcomes rather than their own profits.

Poverty and tobacco carry similar health risks, study finds

People on the bottom rung of the socioeconomic ladder may live two years less on average than those at the top, according to a large-scale study published Wednesday (31 January) in the British journal The Lancet.