WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1485/97 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Innovative pharmaceutical products
Date: 1997-04-30
Institutions: European Parliament, PAPAYANNAKIS
Subjects: fixing of prices, new product, pharmaceutical expenses, pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical product, selling price, social security

22. 1. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 21/59

(98/C 21/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1485/97

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 April 1997)

Subject: Innovative pharmaceutical products

In reply to Question E-2093/95 (1), Commissioner Bangemann stated that the committee set up under Directive
89/105/EEC (2) had instructed a working party to investigate the question of unusually high prices for innovative
products and to clarify certain concepts such as (cid:145)innovative pharmaceutical products(cid:146) and (cid:145)excessive prices(cid:146).

Has  the  working  party  given  its  opinion  on  the  above  matters?  If  so,  what  is  the  definition  of  (cid:145)innovative
pharmaceutical products(cid:146) and of (cid:145)excessive prices(cid:146)?

(1)  OJ C 311, 22.11.1995, p. 33.
(2)  OJ L 40, 11.2.1989, p. 8.

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(11 June 1997)

The committee set up under Directive 89/105/EEC (1) (the transparency committee) instructed a working party to
examine the question of excessive prices of innovative medicines. That working party has met three times and
has considered a paper produced by the Danish competition authorities about the pricing and reimbursement of a
particular product within the Community. It has been possible to use data collected over a period of time to note
the impact of different public health policies, and the effect of currency movements on the use of innovative
medicines. During the working party discussions, it has been clear that the subject cannot easily be separated
from the broader question of developing pricing and reimbursement strategies for all pharmaceutical products
which reconcile objectives in health and industrial policy with progress towards a single european market in the
pharmaceutical  sector.  It  has  also  been  clear  that  the  definition  of  terms  such  as  (cid:145)innovative(cid:146)  and  (cid:145)excessive
prices(cid:146) is closely linked to approaches taken to these broader issues.

Accordingly discussion has been subsumed for the time being within the process launched at the round table in
Frankfurt  in  December  1996.  Informal  working  parties  involving  representatives  of  industry  as  well  as  the
governments of Member States are studying possible solutions to the full range of issues, including the pricing of
innovative products. The transparency committee is involved in taking forward the matter at all stages, and will
decide on the future of the working party following the second round table, to be held in December 1997.

(1)  OJ L 40, 11.2.1989.

(98/C 21/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1489/97

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE) to the Council

(30 April 1997)

Subject: Structural funds

Is  it  possible  under  the  Treaty  on  European  Union  that  structural  funds  might  be  used  to  finance  specific
operations in non-Union countries?

If so, what restrictions apply to such financing?

Answer

(6 August 1997)

As the Honourable Member will probably know, the Treaty establishing the European Community provides that
the Structural Funds shall support the Community(cid:146)s action to strengthen its economic and social cohesion.