Report on transparency of medicine prices:

On 6 February, MEPs adopted a report by Antonyia Parvanova (ALDE-BUL) on the transparency of medicine prices, in a context where “the financial viability of national health services is under pres¬sure from the crisis, and the ageing of the population,” according to the rapporteur.

The draft rules will require national authorities to meet new deadlines and transparency requirements on pricing and reimbursement. While the Euro¬pean Commission proposed in a draft directive, published in March 2012, to reduce the deadline to 120 days (60 for the decision on the price and 60 for reim¬bursement) MEPs are calling for 180 days (90 plus 90). Equally, for generic medicines, the Commission’s proposal of 30 days (15 plus 15) has been rejected by MEPs, who think that 60 days are needed (30 plus 30). 

Parliament has seriously changed the Commission’s proposal, but the Commission has already indicated that it is ready to accept this compromise text. However, the text has been poorly received by member states, which have all expressed reservations.  This means that the Commission may need to come forward with a modified proposal. 

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