Activities of Tilly METZ related to 2020/2071(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on shortage of medicines – how to address an emerging problem
Amendments (10)
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the problem of medicine shortages in the Member States was highlighted during the COVID-19 crisis, demonstrating that the problem is getting ever more severe on account of the lack of production capacity in the EU and the relocation of our industries in the sector to other marketsduring epidemics considering our dependency on production in third countries;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas climate change is one of the factors behind the multiplication of epidemics, both in terms of geographic spread and severity, that are linked to globalisation and the intensification of travel, and whereas the destruction of biodiverse habitats and industrial farming creates favourable conditions for the spread of 'zoonoses' by allowing pathogens and animal origin to reach humans and spread rapidly;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Member States to enhance their cooperation in orderat EU level, to put patient's interests at the heart of EU policies, including strong considerations of the security of supply and affordability, and to improve the medicine distribution chains through better visibility and efficient monitoring, particularly on cross- border routes, and to establish dedicated rail or low emission corridors where medical supplies but also raw materials, intermediates, APIs, substances of human origin like plasma, related materials and also packaging have priority of delivery;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. notes with concern that climate change being one of the factors behind the multiplication of epidemics, their number will grow in future; underlines that globalisation and the intensification of travel also results in the aggravation of epidemics and their geographical spread;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Notes that in times of epidemics, the few countries responsible for most of the production of active substances for medicines can become unable to meet demand; remarks that long supply chains for medicines can therefore pose a risk to human life;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Notes that the security of supply is central to fight against medicine shortages and that problems with cross border transport and controls make it even more important to uphold the Schengen agreement;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. SCalls for the shortening of supply chains and relocation of European pharmaceutical companies production; stresses that boosting the industrial production ofin the Member States through favourable economic conditions in the context of national fiscal policies would lead to a more efficient and sustainable logistics networkUnion through proper regulation and part-mandatory production within the Union would lead to securing supplies; emphasises the need for more efficient and sustainable transport and logistics options and a shift to rail and more sustainable transport modes, while reducing the length of transport routes, thereby reducingat would lead to a reduction of emissions, mitigating the impact on the environment, and improving the functioning of the internal market;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Member StCommission to coordinates tohe adoption of strategic plans to upgrade theirMember States' existing infrastructure for an efficient supply of medicines; deems it necessary to remove bottlenecks, boost intermodality (while favouring the shift to rail), finance the main hubs (ports, airports andincluding intermodal platforms), and enhance thetake special account of delivery chains that rely on frequent and timely delivery of variobecause types of goods, including dangerous goods crucial forhe impossibility of stockpiling, for instance for radioisotopes; believes that the pintroduction of the chemical and pharmaceutical industryunconventional distribution and delivery plans should be considered, e.g. the combination of time-sensitive medicine deliveries via scheduled mixed traffic;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the importance of IT systems in facilitating the trackability, supervision and timely delivery of transported medicines as well as the exchange of information between the various actors involved in the transport logistics chain, including the customs authorities, with a view to optimising the distribution of medicines in the Member States and planning supply times more efficiently; in this regard, deems it important to ensure a better overview of transport and stockpiling of medicines in the Union; considers that the Commission should designate a European agency as responsible to ensuring the supply and smooth transportation of medicines in the Union;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the importance of catering to specific transport needs at local and regional levels, particularly in peripheral, rural, mountain and insular areas that are more difficult to access and involve higher delivery costs; notes that there are new automated delivery tools, such as via drones, available on the market that could help operators to access these areacould play a beneficial part in accessing these areas, institutions as well as patients;