Activities of Pál CSÁKY related to 2016/2057(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
Options for improving access to medicines (debate) HU
Options for improving access to medicines (debate) SK
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the EU options for improving access to medicines
Amendments (12)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the opinions of European citizens voiced by petitioning the European Parliament are fundamentally important in signalling to the European legislator issues that citizens feel concerned about, particularly inadequate distribution of medicines, the impact of the economic crisis on medical and pharmaceutical care, and issues regarding marketing procedures and patents for medicinal products; market failures resulting in restricted access to effective and affordable medicines, the impact of the economic crisis on patients' rights and Member States' healthcare systems, and issues regarding marketing procedures and intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical sector;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls forPoints out that a high level of human health protection has to be ensured in the definition and implementation of all the Union’'s policies and activities, as enshrined in Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and required by Article 35 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Welcomes that the Conclusions of the Council on strengthening the balance in the pharmaceutical system in the EU and its Members States outline the most relevant challenges of the pharmaceutical sector and important actions towards a fairer and a more patient-centred healthcare system;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Deplores the fact that there is a large 18 million peoplenumber of EU citizens without proper access to health care or medicines, whose human rights are being violated on a daily basisthreatened; finds it alarming that there are 25 000 annual deaths in the EUthousands of victims due to lack of new effective antibiotics; and imprudent use of critical antibiotics;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recognises as key obstacles to access to medicinesthat the lack of affordability and availability of medicines, the budgetary cuts resulting fromimpact of the financial crisis, the high price of medicines and theresulting from monopolies of large companies in the market and the uncontrolled parallel trade constitute considerable obstacles to access to medicines;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights the negative impact of Member States’ austerity policies and sStresses that budgetary cuts should not prevent any EU citizen from being able to access medicines;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission to continue assessing the functioning of the European pharmaceutical system in order to deliver data and proposals for solutions to ensure the sustainability of the European pharmaceutical system and Member States' health systems, as well as the developments of new and innovative medicinal products;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Supports the intention of the Member States to improve the voluntary cooperation between the states and at EU level, especially in the area of pricing, reimbursements and information exchange;
Amendment 58 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. IdentifiesNotes that patent rights as a majornd other innovation promotion measures often create obstacles to access to medicines, and urges public policy makers to take proactive steps towards making generic and biosimilar medicines available in a timely manner, always taking into account the need to ensure the same beneficial effects, continuity of patient care and prevention of any risk of abuse or misuse of the regulatory framework;
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Member States to support research and development (R&D) that focuses on the unmet medical needs of all citizens and to guarantee affordable and non-discriminatory access to medical advances in the European Union; emphasizes the importance of further investments through the Horizon2020 and the Innovative Medicines Initiative, as well as the involvement of the European Medicines Agency in the development of innovative medicines;
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines that free trade agreements such as TTIP and TiSA may seriously damage Member States’ healthcare systems, paving the way for wider liberalisation and privatisation in vital sectors and further undermining the principle of universal access to healthcare should be respected also by trade agreements;
Amendment 89 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls onInvites the Member States to consider the possibility of establishment of a pooled public platform for R&D financed by all states via a contribution of 0.01 % of their GDP.