Managing cross-border health risks efficiently

Recommendations for the European legislative period 2024-2029

Since the coronavirus pandemic, it has become clear that health risks can have a massive impact on economic development, international trade, and supply chains. To better manage health risks in the future, we need closer cooperation across national borders, more resilient healthcare systems and greater investment in the healthcare sector. What is not needed are regulations that restrict the healthcare industry from developing innovative medical solutions. The healthcare industry has enormous potential to become Europe's economic driver - the EU should now fully capitalise on this.

Strengthen the competitiveness of the industrial healthcare sector

Companies in the industrial healthcare sector need planning and legal certainty as well as favourable framework conditions when making investment decisions - and not just in times of crisis. European legislators must create a regulatory system that considers the specific industry structure and makes the healthcare location competitive and future-proof. What is needed is a strengthening of resilience and supply chains, incentives for innovation and digitalisation, a reduction in bureaucracy and simplified recognition procedures for the required specialists.

Improve the European Medical Devices Regulation

The postponement of the transitional period for the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) was sensible and necessary, but still leaves unanswered questions in practice. The content-related problems in connection with the MDR also need to be resolved and requirements, interpretations and processes need to be further adapted. The MDR itself provides for an evaluation in 2027. This evaluation should take place earlier.

Utilise the EU pharma package as an opportunity in global innovation and investment competition

The European Commission urgently needs to make improvements to the EU pharmaceutical package to create a legal framework that makes research, development, and production economically viable for both large and small and medium-sized companies. Long-term incentives, faster authorisation procedures or targeted state support measures and funding are crucial when it comes to the issue of location in global competition. Excessive stockpiling, reporting or transparency obligations, on the other hand, tend to act as a deterrent.

Internal market freedoms in an emergency

Some national lockdown measures within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic have shown that for future crises, the EU must ensure that internal market freedoms also apply in principle during an emergency or crisis.