A group of 11 European Union health ministers has urged the EU to reduce its reliance on a few countries, particularly China, for critical drug supplies such as antibiotics and anaesthetics. Their warning comes ahead of the EU Commission’s draft Critical Medicine Act (CMA), set to be unveiled on Tuesday.
Key Concerns Raised by EU Ministers
- High Dependency on Asia: “80-90% of antibiotics are made in Asia, mostly China,” the ministers stated in a letter dated March 8.
- Security Risks: They warned that foreign actors could exploit this dependency, posing a risk to Europe’s healthcare, security, and defence capabilities.
- Production Shift Away from Europe: Price pressures on generics, higher labour and environmental costs, have led to outsourcing drug production, leaving the EU vulnerable to supply disruptions.
Proposed Solutions
- Reclassifying Pharmaceuticals as Strategic Goods – Similar to US defence supply chains, medicines should be considered vital for both civilian and military needs.
- Increasing Domestic Production – Encouraging European-based manufacturing to ensure supply security.
- Stockpiling Essential Drugs – Building centralised reserves to prepare for future health crises.
The ministers emphasized that essential drugs like antibiotics, anaesthetics, and thrombolytics are critical not only for civilian healthcare but also for military and emergency scenarios. The push for pharmaceutical independence aligns with the EU’s broader efforts to strengthen supply chain resilience and strategic autonomy.
