Healthcare and austerity
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.
Better Regulation: Are laws aligning?
We are halfway through this European Parliament’s mandate and, as ever, many laws have been voted, with many more to come. But will they be effectively introduced at the national level in the area of health? Denis Horgan asks.
Unhealthy divisions don’t help access to best healthcare
In the wake of the Brexit vote and Donald Trump being sworn in as US president, the divisions in crucial parts of the Western world are clear and stark, warns Denis Horgan.
OECD criticises ‘ineffective spending’ in healthcare
Health spending in countries that belong to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is "at best ineffective and at worst wasteful", a new report has found.
Novartis under scrutiny for alleged pharma scandal in Greece
The Greek government launched an official investigation into pharmaceutical giant Novartis, following the publication of allegations of corruption and bribery in national news media.
Diabetes expert: Urgent need for education ‘at every level’
There is a great need to raise awareness and enhance education on diabetes and a healthier lifestyle “at every level”, Stella de Sabata, head of the International Diabetes Federation, told EURACTIV.com.
E-health and the ‘fine line’ of big data
The introduction of digital technology in healthcare systems might be viewed by health stakeholders in a positive light. However, policymakers are yet to address issues related to data collection and use that are considered crucial in the management of chronic conditions like diabetes.
E-health should not exacerbate existing inequalities, NGO warns
Efforts to digitalise healthcare for chronic disease patients – including those suffering from diabetes – are helpful, according to the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA). But the move towards digitalisation should not exacerbate existing health inequalities, it warns.
Medical community alarmed by global rise in diabetes cases
The rise of diabetes is causing avoidable deaths and imposing substantial costs on ailing healthcare systems. Alarmed, lawmakers are attempting to improve prevention and get the emerging pandemic under control.
Health minister: Drugs pricing will top Malta’s EU presidency
The Maltese EU presidency will seek more transparency in the way pharmaceutical companies negotiate with member states on medicines’ pricing, Health Minister Chris Fearne said in an interview with EURACTIV.
EU citizens enjoy longer lives, but not health equality
Europeans live almost 7 years more compared to 1990, but this does not necessarily mean that these years are healthy, a new report has found.
Alzheimer Europe chief: Holistic approach needed to tackle dementia
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia remain underdiagnosed in most European countries, Jean Georges told EURACTIV.
Malta tops EU obesity rankings, Romania thinnest
Malta has the highest proportion of obese adults in Europe, according to EU figures released yesterday (20 October), while Romania is the least obese.
Andriukaitis: Health Technology Assessment will make EU healthcare ‘sustainable’
EXCLUSIVE / National healthcare systems should embrace the digital era and use Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to become truly sustainable and cost-effective, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Parliament wants harmonised criteria for drug pricing and reimbursement
The European Parliament will seek an increased EU role in regulating the pharmaceutical market and controlling rising drug prices, according to a draft report seen by EURACTIV.com.
Pharma industry ‘cannot escape’ drug price talks, say patient groups
Patient groups and the pharmaceutical sector agree that access to medicines needs to be improved - but the way to do it seems to divide them. EURACTIV.com reports from Sofia.
Bulgarian health minister: Drugs availability part of regional cooperation
Bulgaria and Romania will soon sign an intergovernmental agreement to jointly negotiate the pricing and availability of medicines with pharmaceutical companies, Bulgarian Health Minister Petar Moskov said in an interview with EURACTIV.com.