In May 2024, in response to the failure of pharmaceutical policy to adequately address public health needs (resulting, for example, in drug shortages), a group of 14 organisations, including Prescrire, jointly published a "prescription from civil society" (1).

The objective of this collective is to champion a healthcare system based on the needs of patients and the principle of permanent access to health products. This collective consists of the following French health sector organisations: Action Santé Mondiale, AFM-Téléthon, Aides, Association française des hémophiles, DNDi, France Assos Santé, La Ligue contre le cancer, Médecins du Monde, Open Insulin France, Prescrire, Renaloo, UAEM, UFC-Que Choisir, and Vaincre la Mucoviscidose.

The "prescription" contains 15 articles covering all aspects of pharmaceutical policy: from basic research, to the loss of democratic control over the use of public resources, via the revision of Europe's pharmaceutical legislation, and access to therapeutic innovations.

The article contributed by Prescrire focuses on the revision of Europe's pharmaceutical legislation. The "prescription" (in French) is available from our French website at Prescrire.org > Nos actions > Politiques de santé.

References
1- "L'ordonnance de la société civile pour une nouvelle politique du médicament. Garantir l'accès, maîtriser les prix" May 2024: 54 pages.

 ©Prescrire 1 June 2025

Source: "A 'prescription' from French civil society for a new pharmaceutical policy" Prescrire Int 2025; 34 (271): 167. FREE.