The initial drafts of the Directive and Regulation on medicinal products, prepared by the European Commission, were extensively amended by the European Parliament in its vote of 23 October 2002. Most of the adopted amendments oppposed items that favoured drug companies' vested interests over public health concerns.
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The European Council of Health Ministers, involved in the co-decision procedure, started by examining the draft Regulation, at its meeting of 2 December 2002. The Council only managed to reach a consensus on a few points (including the important principle of five-year marketing authorisation re-evaluation), and decided to pursue its work at the next meeting on 2-3 June 2003 under Greek presidency. In the meantime discussions continue within the Council working group on pharmaceuticals.
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After Parliament's amendments and the Council's initial reflections, the Commission published a modified draft Regulation on 10 December 2002. Publication of a modified draft Directive is due for mid-January 2003.

Overall, the Commission rejected a large number of amendments voted by Parliament, including important measures supported by the Medecines in Europe Forum, of which la revue Prescrire is an active member. More information: Click here

Health professionals and patients throughout the European union must remain fully committed and remind the European Commission that, even when industrial competitiveness is at stake, drugs are not just another consumer product.