The much-awaited proposal of the European Commission, aimed at reforming the European Union’s pharmaceutical legislation, is a step in the right direction. However, this should not be a missed opportunity for our societies. While we agree on the overall objectives of improving access to, and affordability of medicinal products, we regret that the proposal does not contain more ambitious provisions leading to fair medicines prices, nor does introduce provisions leading to more transparency of underlying R&D costs. We are also concerned that this reform will strain our regulatory system and put the quality of medicinal products regulatory assessment at risk.

That is the first reaction of AIM, the International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies, to the Commission’s legislative proposals. AIM is counting 50 members in 26 countries globally providing access to healthcare coverage to around 240 million people in the world. AIM and its members are ready to work with the European institutions now in charge of deciding on the proposal to work towards a more balanced legislation that finds the right balance between affordability, access and innovation.

You can find AIM’s press release in attachment and here.