Europe takes steps to increase access to generic medicines
In a bid to make medicines more available, accessible, and affordable, the European Union is pushing for new legislation to facilitate market access for generic and biosimilar medicines. The move comes as patients across Europe face shortages of essential drugs, particularly antibiotics and oncology medications.
The proposed “Pharma package” includes measures to reduce the monopoly power of major pharmaceutical companies, known as “Big Pharma”, which often extend patents on their drugs well beyond their natural expiry. This practice excludes competition from the market and drives up prices for patients.
The new legislation, approved by MEPs in April, aims to shorten the protection period for new medicines from the current 10 years to a minimum of seven and a half years. This would allow generic and biosimilar products to enter the market sooner, bringing down costs for consumers and healthcare systems.
The European Commission estimates that the introduction of generics for certain widely used drugs could save Spain around 800 million euros. Similar savings are expected for other EU countries, including Italy, if patients switch to equivalent drugs.
Despite opposition from major pharmaceutical companies, the new measures are seen as a step towards balancing the need for affordable medicines with the competitiveness of the European pharmaceutical industry. The legislation also includes incentives for the development of drugs for rare diseases, ensuring that patients with these conditions have access to treatment.
However, challenges remain in convincing consumers to choose generic medicines over branded products. In Italy, for example, only 22% of medicines sold are generics, compared to 67% in the rest of Europe. A lack of awareness, brand loyalty, and misinformation among doctors and pharmacists are cited as reasons for this discrepancy.
As the EU moves towards a more competitive and accessible market for generic medicines, the hope is that patients will have greater access to affordable treatments, while the pharmaceutical industry continues to innovate and develop new therapies for a range of health conditions.