ECHAMP responds to Study on the Availability of Medicinal Products for Human Use

The new publication, ‘External Study Report on the Availability of Medicinal Products for Human Use,’ by Matrix Insight, is a positive indication of the Commission’s interest in the availability of medicines. It confirms its commitment to addressing one of the important principles of the EU’s pharmaceutical legislation, that patients should have access to the medicinal products of their choice.

ECHAMP warmly welcomes the specific attention it gives to the situation regarding the availability of homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products, showing clear recognition of the special issues facing our industry.

The Matrix Insight report takes account of and echoes many of the findings of ECHAMP’s own report, ‘The Availability of Homeopathic and Anthroposophic Medicinal Products in the EU,’ carried out in cooperation with PwC. It confirms that EU regulation is a barrier to availability of homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products and that the lack of a coherent legal framework is also an important driver of availability problems for these products.

ECHAMP supports Matrix Insight´s overall conclusion that there is a need to take a closer look at current EU regulation to enhance availability of medicinal products, and its specific recommendation to work to improve the national implementation of simplified procedures for homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products. ECHAMP calls for action to overcome the shortcomings of enforcement in this sector of EU regulation at EU Member State level and to guarantee freedom of choice for the millions of users of these products.