Mónica García Champions EU Law for Equitable Access to Critical Medicines
Mónica García advocates in Brussels for a European law to ensure equitable access to critical medicines and stronger health policies across the EU.
- • Mónica García proposes a Critical Medicines Law to ensure equal access to essential drugs across the EU.
- • She calls for European funding to avoid disparities and reinforce pharmaceutical industry independence.
- • García warns against a divided Europe in health rights and advocates stronger tobacco regulation.
- • She highlights the need for a European Health and Climate Strategy and an International Pandemic Treaty.
Key details
Spain's Minister of Health, Mónica García, has advocated in Brussels for a Critical Medicines Law aimed at guaranteeing equitable access to essential drugs across all European Union member states. During the EPSCO Council meeting, García emphasized that this law is vital to secure pharmaceutical supplies and prevent disparities in healthcare availability throughout the EU. She declared, "Today we come to Brussels with a very clear goal: to take a decisive step for the safety of all European patients." Highlighting that reliance on vulnerable supply chains or decisions outside Europe endangers health rights, García called for European funding to ensure solidarity, cautioning against a "two-speed Europe" scenario regarding health rights.
Beyond access to medicines, García stressed the importance of reinforcing the European pharmaceutical industry and developing cohesive funding models to avoid competitive inequalities among member states. She also addressed public health challenges including the rising use of new tobacco and nicotine products among youth, urging stronger regulatory measures.
Furthermore, García underscored the urgency of implementing a European Health and Climate Strategy to combat climate change impacts on health, and the necessity to finalize an International Pandemic Treaty to ensure coordinated responses to health emergencies.
This advocacy aligns with ongoing calls within the EU for inclusive policies that promote social rights and equality. It reflects the broader perspective seen in Cermi's recent manifesto, which calls for an inclusive Europe emphasizing social rights, accessibility, and non-discrimination, especially for vulnerable groups, underscoring that social commitments are foundational for a cohesive and just European project.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
