Major Disparities in European Drug Access: Waiting Times Vary Greatly

There are substantial disparities in the availability of newly approved medicines across European countries, according to an investigation by the European pharmaceutical industry association EFPIA. While patients in Germany benefit from an average waiting time of 128 days for new drugs, those in Malta face waits of up to 1,351 days, nearly four years.

The findings highlight that out of 168 medicines approved in Europe between 2018 and 2021, covering crucial advancements in areas like HIV, rare diseases, and cancer treatments, only 6% are available in Malta. Germany leads with 88% availability as of January 2023.

The European Commission has proposed a "pharma package" to address these access issues. However, industry groups like EFPIA and the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa) express strong reservations. They argue that proposed changes, such as shortening data exclusivity periods, could harm innovation and weaken Europe's global competitiveness without ensuring equitable access within the EU.

EFPIA Director General Nathalie Moll emphasized that patients, particularly those with cancer, cannot afford prolonged regulatory procedures. Han Steutel, President of vfa, stated that the EU's proposals are "not a sustainable situation" and that the Commission is "on the wrong track," warning that reduced intellectual property protection could deter research and development in Europe.

The report points out that delays in medicine availability are often due to multifactorial causes beyond the pharmaceutical companies' control, citing data from the European Access Portal.