Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

[**Avis juridique important**](../../../editorial/legal_notice.htm)

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# 92001E1915

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-1915/01 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Reform of price-fixing policy for pharmaceuticals.** 
  
*Official Journal 160 E , 04/07/2002 P. 0005 - 0006*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1915/01

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2001)

Subject: Reform of price-fixing policy for pharmaceuticals

Recent developments in the pharmaceuticals sector have pointed up the need for a collective and global approach to the problem of price-fixing policy for pharmaceutical products, with a view to adapting that policy to new circumstances and events in the health field at world level.

It is already clear that the international agreements on patents need reforming and that the pharmaceutical industry must operate a change in attitudes which is more than thirty years overdue.

In view of these developments in the sector and the major impact which a reformed regulation of the market in pharmaceuticals would have at world level, does the Commission believe it should make a particular contribution by calling for a global debate and a set of proposals aimed at achieving a fair balance between the health needs of today's world and the business practices of the pharmaceutical industry?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2001)

Universal access to basic health services is extremely important, and achieving that goal in a way which will make a significant contribution to poverty reduction will require a strong international effort. In the context of the fight against the three main communicable diseases (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), malaria and tuberculosis), the Commission has called for global tiered pricing to be applied in order to bring about a significant reduction in the cost of key pharmaceuticals to sufferers in developing countries. However, the Commission has not called for a reformed regulation of the market in pharmaceuticals, nor does it advocate any kind of mandatory price-fixing.

At the same time, the Commission continues to recognise the need to maintain strong protection of intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical sector, since, on a long term basis, these rights provide the necessary incentives for the pharmaceutical industry to develop new and improved drugs for the benefit of the world population.

As regards the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs), the Commission's view is that the Agreement contains the necessary flexibility to allow WTO Members to set up an intellectual property regime that is supportive of their public health objectives. In this context, the Community, together with all other WTO Members in the TRIPs Council, is engaged in discussions aimed at clarifying certain provisions of the TRIPs Agreement. This process should allow WTO Members to have a clearer view of measures that can be taken under the TRIPs Agreement to address health problems.

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