Proposals for establishing a ‘European Health Union’ include measures to give the EU regulator more say in monitoring and mitigating potential and actual shortages of drugs and devices in the event of serious public health crises.

A package of health proposals intended to build up the EU’s resilience to health threats while strengthening the competitiveness of Europe’s pharmaceutical industry and ensuring access to affordable drugs takes a major step through the legislative process this week.

The EU has ambitious plans for dealing with future health crises, bolstering needs-led innovation, improving access to medicines, and tackling drug shortages.