EU Pushes to Boost Domestic Drug Production Amid Supply Chain Concerns

A proposed law aims to address critical medication shortages by increasing pharmaceutical manufacturing within Europe and streamlining regulatory processes.

The EU Commission has proposed legislation to expand domestic production of critical medications, citing recent shortages of items like antibiotics and children's fever syrups.
Currently, 80-90% of Europe's medications are sourced from Asia, primarily China, raising concerns about supply chain vulnerabilities in times of conflict or disruption.
The proposed law would simplify approval processes for pharmaceutical manufacturing and allow for greater public funding support to incentivize local production.
Healthcare professionals and policymakers argue that relocating production to Europe could reduce costs in the long term and alleviate the burden on medical staff managing shortages.
Pharmacists advocate for more autonomy in suggesting alternatives to unavailable drugs, as patients often face delays requiring multiple visits to doctors and pharmacies.