site.btaHealth Minister Hinkov Participates in Regular Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council

Health Minister Hristo Hinkov took part in the regular Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council held in Luxembourg, the health Ministry said Tuesday. The Council adopted a recommendation aimed at stepping up EU action to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the fields of human health, animal health and the environment via a "One Health" approach. Health ministers agreed on the Council’s general approach for a regulation to modernise and simplify the structure of fees payable to the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The proposed regulation seeks to ensure that fees charged by EMA are cost-based, as well as to reduce the complexity of the current legal framework. In order to deliver on its mission of evaluating and supervising medicines, EMA needs a sound financial basis to support its operations. It is also necessary to remunerate in a sustainable manner the fundamental contribution of national competent authorities.

During the non-legislative discussions, the ministers held a discussion on the topic of "Strengthening the pharmaceutical ecosystem to support competitiveness and equitable access to medicines". Hinkov stressed that creating an enabling ecosystem and improving access are complex issues whose solution is not limited to increasing consumption and purchasing medicines as an end in itself, noting in this context the experience with the COVID-19 vaccine agreements. He pointed out that the challenges are common, but it should not be forgotten that the perspective and capacities of Member States are different. "In order to 'leave no one behind', solutions for some should not become a problem for others," he pointed out.

Within the framework of the meeting, Hinkov had talks with Austrian Federal Minister of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection Johannes Rauch and European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety European Commissioner Stella Kyriakides.