Advancing healthcare policy

Advancing healthcare policy in Europe: a chronological recap of actions

Advancing healthcare policy

A recap of actions in 2017

Working together with other organisations, Prescrire's policy advocacy is a source of constructive proposals, counterbalancing the influence of purely commercial interests.

Horizon 2020: need to improve public return on public investment for EU's investment in research in the area of health (December 2017)

In a joint open letter to the European Commissioner in charge of Research, Science and Innovation, more than 20 civil society organisations, including Prescrire, called for improvements on the outcomes for the society from EU’s investment in research in the area of health. Read on...
No to EMA's provision of confidential scientific advice to drug companies (November 2017)

Prescrire, along with around 20 civil society organisations, has signed a joint declaration drawing attention to potential problems posed by the provision of confidential scientific advice by the European Medicines Agency to pharmaceutical companies, in particular a lowering of the regulatory bar, a risk of regulatory capture, and a total lack of transparency surrounding the activity of European regulatory authorities. Read on...
French drug agency's recommendations on packaging labelling: a welcome first step, to be optimised (November 2017)

Prescrire participated in the consultation on recommendations by the French drug regulatory agency (ANSM) regarding the labelling of drug packaging for oral solid formulations. These recommendations are a welcome first step, and should be further improved. Read on...
Supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) delay access to affordable medicines (September 2017)

33 civil society organisations, including Prescrire, acting together in the name of responsible pharmaceutial research and affordable medicines, called for the European Commission to abolish the mechanism of supplementary protection certificates (SPCs). Read on...
French drug agency's recommendations on dosing devices: a step forward (September 2017)

In 2016, the French drug regulatory agency (ANSM) published recommendations for companies regarding dosing devices. These recommendations are welcome, and should be extended. Read on...
Prescrire applauds the work of the European Ombudsman over the past several years (July 2017)

In its response to the public consultation on strategy "Towards 2019", Prescrire applauds the European Ombudsman's work over the past several years, particularly as regards transparency, access to documents and prevention of conflicts of interest at the level of the European Medicines Agency. Read on...
Proposed changes to EMA's access to documents policy fall short on proactive disclosure (May 2017)

In a joint response to the EMA's consultation on its policy on access to documents, Health Action International, the International Society of Drug Bulletins, NoGracias, the Nordic Cochrane Centre and Prescrire called for a comprehensive public register of all the documents the EMA produces and receives. The coalition also strongly encourages the EMA to increase resources so it can more efficiently handle access requests to documents. Read on...
Prescrire's response to the EU Commission consultation on the Paediatric Regulation (February 2017)

Experience with the R&D of new paediatric medicines raises doubts over whether real therapeutic needs are a fundamental objective for pharmaceutical companies. It is also crucial to adapt the pharmaceutical form and the packaging of paediatric drugs to make them suitable for paediatric use. Read on...
Health technology assessment: Joint response to the EU Commission Consultation (January 2017)

In a joint response to the EU Commission Consultation on health technology assessment, Prescrire, the International Socety of Drug Bulletins and the Medicines in Europe Forum argue in favour of transparency, independence and high-quality evidentiary standards. Read on...