EU in crisis as country may turn to India for medicines as continent ‘not self-sufficient’ | World | News

The former Health Minister of the Netherlands warned a month before he stepped down from his role that Europe is « not currently self-sufficient » when it comes to health products.

To replenish the supplies and make sure Dutch patients are not left without high-quality medicines and products, Ernst Kuipers signed a memorandum of intent with Indian Minister of State for Chemicals Bhagwant Khuba focused on possible regulatory cooperation, in November.

In a letter addressed to the Dutch Parliament and penned on December 4, Mr Kuipers shed more light on the possible cooperation the Netherlands could cultivate with India.

In the message, brought to the attention of the wider European public on January 16, he wrote: « In the Netherlands and Europe, we are largely dependent on internationally operating market players, many of which are located in India and China.

« Despite important discussions about strategic autonomy, Europe is not currently self-sufficient, and we will not become self-sufficient in the short term. »

As a consequence, given that India is « a major producer of medicines » Mr Kuipers said the country was « of great importance for the security of supply in the Netherlands ».

The memorandum, signed on the sidelines of the World Local Production Forum (WLPF) in the Hague, was wanted by Mr Kuipers to help make supply chains more diverse and reliable.

Knowledge sharing about a number of topics linked to research and supply was also part of the reason he drafted this document, as were the issues of digitisation, antimicrobial resistance and what impact climate change may have on public health.

Mr Kuipers also believed deepening the cooperation between India and the Netherlands would allow his country to better mitigate shortages, a spokesperson for the former Health Minister told Euractiv.

Given Mr Kuipers submitted his resignation on January 10 to take a yet unknown job abroad, it is not known whether the memorandum will be abandoned.

His spokesperson said, referring to the Dutch standing policy on improved availability and security of supply of medical products: « This is in line with the EU’s efforts, such as through the HERA initiative.

« In addition, the new pharma legislation and policy initiatives from the EU aim to map the availability of essential medicines in order to offer a better security of supply of medicines in the long term. »

Over the past few years, the supply chain shortages in the EU have been largely attributed by the media to the war in Ukraine and COVID-19.

However, a study on selected EU countries published last year by investigative journalist networks MIIR and EDJNet partners found the issues date back several years, with drug shortages surging in Europe over the past two decades.