Public health in danger with move of pharmaceutical policy to DG Enterprise and Industry

12 September, 2014 www.haieurope.org
Health Action International is appalled by the European Commission’s opaque and unjustified decision to move SANCO Units D5 (Medicinal Products–Authorisations, European Medicines Agency) and D6 (Medicinal Products–Quality, Safety and Efficacy) from the Directorate General (DG) for Health and Consumers to DG Enterprise and Industry.
Given that pharmaceuticals are integral to enhancing public health, they belong within the
portfolio of DG Health and Consumers, which is mandated to protect health and well-being.
Moving pharmaceuticals to DG Enterprise and Industry will put the commercial, profit-driven interests of the pharmaceutical industry, rather than patients and consumers, at the heart of European policymaking on medicines.
The transferring of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to Enterprise and Industry is
particularly troubling. This will create significant threats to clinical trial data transparency in the European Union. The EMA had encountered significant opposition to its policy on public access to clinical trial data from the pharmaceutical industry in the last year. Now, the strong opposition from the industry will be more loudly heard by the EMA, and will most likely jeopardise independent review and, ultimately, patient safety.
The European Parliament will soon vote on the entire Commission College. Health Action
International urges Members of the European Parliament to prioritise health over commercial interests and stand against President-elect Juncker’s decision to move these units to DG Enterprise and Industry.
For comment and additional information:
Ancel.la Santos Quintano, Policy Advisor, Health Action International Europe
Email: ancel.la@haieurope.org / Office: +31 (0) 20 683 3684
Bobbi Klettke, Communications Officer, Health Action International
Email: bobbi@haiglobal.org / Mobile: +31 (0) 681 423 206