Equitable Access to Medicines Across Europe – The Role of Digital Solutions

Veranstaltungsdatum:
20.03.2025
Ort:
Spinelli 3H1, European Parliament, Brussels

Access to medicines is a fundamental right enshrined in European and global health policies. Despite significant advancements in healthcare across Europe, disparities in availability and accessibility of medicines persist, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and remote/rural regions. These disparities have been further exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting systemic challenges in supply chains and healthcare infrastructure. Digital health solutions present a transformative opportunity to bridge these gaps.

However, only 8 out of 27 Member States have allowed this choice for decades. The ongoing revision of the General Pharmaceutical Legislation (GPL) provides a once in a generation opportunity to address inequitable patient access, address medicine shortages, and to empower healthcare providers across all Member States to offer additional patient services through digitalisation and innovative means.

To unlock the full benefits to patients of enabling safe online access to prescription medicine, The OnHOME Alliance is co-hosting an event, with MEP Kristian Vigenin (S&D, Bulgaria), titled “Equitable Access to Medicines Across Europe: The Role of Digital Solution”.

The event aims to foster a constructive dialogue among policymakers, healthcare professionals, patient representatives, and industry stakeholders on how digital innovation could contribute to advancing equitable access to medicines and minimising shortages.

We kindly invite you to reach out to Nina.Halbertsma@asop.eu if you wish to register for this event.

Agenda

13:00 – 13:05Welcome
  • Petra Wilson, moderator
13:05 – 13:15Opening remarks
  • MEP Kristian Vigenin (S&D, Bulgaria)
13:15 – 13:30Keynote speech on digital solutions in Bulgaria
  • Zlatimira Dobreva, Counsellor (Health), Permanent Representation of the Republic of Bulgaria to the EU
13:30 – 14:45Panel discussion and Q&A on ‘Ensuring Availability and Accessibility of Medicines: Leaving No One Behind’
Moderated by Petra Wilson
  • Martino Canonico, Head of Brussels Office, European Association of E-Pharmacies (EAEP)
  • Alexis Strader, Director of Policy and Research, European Health Management Association (EHMA)
  • Josephine Mosset, Policy Officer, Cancer Patients Europe (CPE)
  • Baiba Ziemele, Chairwoman, Latvian Network of Patient Organizations (LPOT)
14:45 – 15:00Closing remarks
  • MEP Tomislav Sokol (EPP, Croatia)

The ticketsale is closed.