Medicines for Europe, the trade association representing generic and biosimilar medicines manufacturers, on April 12, 2026, urged the European Union to adopt procurement criteria that go beyond price to secure medicine supply chains. In a statement, the group argued that current procurement practices, which often prioritise the lowest price, undermine supply security and resilience, particularly for essential medicines.
The call comes amid ongoing EU efforts to strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains. On April 13, 2026, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published data processing records for its EudraVigilance safety analytics platform, detailing how adverse drug reaction data are collected and analyzed to support pharmacovigilance across the EU. The publication is a formal record of processing activities required under Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.
Medicines for Europe's push for broader procurement criteria follows a series of regulatory developments by EMA in April 2026 aimed at strengthening veterinary medicine oversight, including the publication of a detailed application form for biocontrol products on April 13. The association's recruitment of a Policy Officer to monitor EU legislation and advocate on market access, advertised on April 12, further underscores its focus on shaping pharmaceutical policies.
The debate over procurement criteria highlights a cleavage between cost containment and supply security. Prioritising lowest price may reduce short-term public spending but risks supply disruptions, especially for essential medicines. Broader criteria could improve resilience but may increase procurement costs for national health systems. Stakeholders most impacted include EU patients, who could face shortages under current practices; national health authorities, which would need to adjust tendering processes; generic manufacturers, who would benefit from a more stable market; and EU taxpayers, who may bear higher costs for more resilient supply chains.
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