EU drug security talks hit pricing wall

EU negotiations over the Critical Medicines Act have entered a crucial phase, with health policy concerns now dominating discussions, according to EurActiv. The talks centre on balancing drug security with pricing pressures facing EU healthcare systems.

Greece has requested greater flexibility in EU preference modules—provisions designed to prioritize European manufacturers. The country's push reflects member state concerns that strict EU-first purchasing mandates could inflate drug costs for cash-strapped health budgets.

The act aims to shore up Europe's pharmaceutical resilience after COVID-19 exposed supply chain vulnerabilities. However, delegates at EurActiv's health conference flagged a fundamental tension: guaranteeing medicine availability often requires accepting higher prices or production incentives that strain public health budgets.