EU Pharma Legislation

• Don’t believe “crocodile tears” of industry, campaigners say

Responding to the EU’s proposed reform of pharmaceutical regulations, Piotr Kolczyński, EU Health Policy Advisor at Oxfam and the People’s Vaccine Alliance, said:

“Reducing the exclusivity of data is a step towards improving access to medicines within Europe, but it is total hypocrisy for the EU to protect the right to health in their own borders while undermining it elsewhere.

“Low- and middle-income countries experience the worst inequalities in accessing medicines, often because of EU actions. That is why it is critical for EU countries to place human rights before pharma profits in all negotiations, including over a Pandemic Accord at the WHO.

“Pharmaceutical companies will always respond to regulation with ridiculous threats, but legislators should not believe their crocodile tears. In fact, companies can use this legislation to extend data exclusivity for even longer. The industry will always try to maximise its own profit, even at the expense of public health.“

/ Ends

Notes to editors:

• The EU worked to undermine a proposal from low and middle-income countries to waive intellectual property rules for COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments: https://www.politico.eu/article/covid-vaccine-poor-countries-waiver-killed/
• The EU is undermining measures to ensure timely medical access for low and middle-income countries in the Pandemic Accord: https://genevahealthfiles.substack.com/p/price-caps-tiered-pricing-stockpiling
• The EU’s proposed Free Trade Agreement with India could undermine access to medicines: https://msfaccess.org/news-update-eu-india-fta-negotiations-could-have-negative-impact-access-medicines

Media contact:
Joe Karp-Sawey, Senior Media Advisor, People’s Vaccine Alliance
Email: [email protected]