Source: European Parliament
The increasing dependence on third countries for the manufacturing of medicinal products and their components is a pressing concern. In response, the Commission has undertaken a range of measures to strengthen the security of supply, including initiatives to incentivise the manufacturing of critical medicines inside the EU.
A cornerstone of these efforts is the Commission’s proposal for a Critical Medicines Act[1], adopted on 11 March 2025. The proposed Act aims to bolster EU-based manufacturing capacity for critical medicines by identifying strategic projects and leveraging public procurement mechanisms.
The proposed Act also recognises the importance of ensuring affordability of medicinal products. While enhancing supply security may entail additional costs, the proposed Critical Medicines Act aims to foster cooperation amongst the Member States, enabling a coordinated and cost-efficient approach to invest in security of supply and thereby reduce the important burden of critical shortages for patients, healthcare providers and society.
The Commission remains firmly committed to ensuring that patients have access to the medicines they need, when they need them.
- [1] COM/2025/102 final.