The European Parliament has endorsed the Critical Medicines Act proposed by the European Commission in spring 2025, with amendments that take into account the interests of candidate countries, including Ukraine.
The document aims to diversify production, strengthen supply chains and develop strategic partnerships in the field of critical medicines. The document also provides for the possibility of candidate countries participating in EU procurement and strategic pharmaceutical initiatives.
The Critical Medicines Act was supported by 503 Members of the European Parliament. The new rules give priority in procurement not only to price, but also to the sustainability of supply and the availability of production capacity in Europe. It also lays the foundation for bilateral agreements with candidate countries, particularly in the area of access to active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Ukraine was involved in the mechanisms provided for in the Act thanks to systematic work with European partners carried out throughout the year by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Medical Assistance and Medical Insurance, Mykhailo Radutskyi, Committee member Olha Stefanyshyna and Deputy Minister of Health Maryna Slobodnichenko.
«Yesterday, MEPs supported the document, including amendments allowing candidate countries to participate in EU procurement procedures and strategic partnerships,» said Mykhailo Radutskyi, Chairman of the Committee on National Health.
According to the committee chair, Ukraine has 125 enterprises that, even in wartime, are capable of increasing production and supplying medicines not only to the domestic market but also to EU countries.
The next stage will be tripartite negotiations between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission to agree on the final text of the Act.
Ukraine is ready to cooperate with European parliaments in the context of implementing the provisions of the Act. It should be recalled that on 15 January, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratified the EU Agreement on joint procurement, which gives Ukraine access to joint procurement of critically important medicines, innovative drugs and vaccines together with EU Member States.