"The resilience of the health sector to threats is an integral part of the security of the entire European Union. One of its most important components is a stable supply of medicines, both in peace and in the event of a potential conflict. A significant number of medicines and active ingredients are produced outside the EU today, and this poses significant risks that we must assess and, having united our efforts, find solutions together," - says D. Naumovas.
Together with colleagues from Estonia, Germany, Poland and EU institutions, the Deputy Minister participated in a panel discussion, which discussed the security of medicine supply chains as one of the most important elements of EU security.
During the meeting, representatives of the Member States shared the challenges they face in the context of access to medicines, emphasised the need for the production and stable supply of critical medicines and active substances in the EU, reducing dependence on third countries, closer cooperation between the EU Member States, and discussed regulatory, financial and other mechanisms that would help achieve these goals.
It is expected that the Critical Medicines Act currently being prepared by the European Commission will contribute to addressing these challenges. The activities of the Critical Medicines Alliance, which Lithuania joined last January, are also important in this regard.
The Critical Medicines Alliance acts as a consultative mechanism that brings together all interested parties (representatives of state institutions, the pharmaceutical industry, patients and healthcare professionals) in order to identify priorities for action and propose solutions that would strengthen the supply of critical medicines in the EU and help prevent shortages of these medicines.
During the visit to Brussels, the Lithuanian delegation also met with the Ambassador at Large of the Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the European Union, Deputy Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the EU, Jurga Kasputiene.
