Parliament backs joined-up medicines assessments

Plans to enable more coordinated EU assessments of new medical technologies have been given the go-ahead by the European Parliament.

MEPs gave their support to the proposed changes in a vote on 3 October. If the plans also receive support from national governments in the Council of the EU, countries will be able to carry out joint scientific consultations and assessments on novel medical treatments. It is hoped that this will lower costs and speed up patients’ access to treatments.

“This new law is a good step towards improving European citizens’ access to medicine and health technologies,’ said lead MEP Soledad Cabezon Ruiz. “It will improve the quality of health technologies, inform research priorities and eliminate unnecessary duplication.”