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The e-pharmacy sector welcomes the new Czech Presidency of the EU Council

Brussels, 4 July 2022 – the European Association of E-Pharmacies (EAEP) welcomes the incoming Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), and applauds the achievements of the outgoing French Presidency. The EAEP invites the new Presidency, as well as the whole Council of the EU, to dedicate the much-needed resources and attention to health-related initiatives, as this is a crucial moment for Europe to develop and implement a true European Health Union.  

Czech Republic took over the steering of the Council of the European Union (EU) at a turning point for the EU: from post-Covid recovery measures to new economic, social, and environmental challenges. These topics are reflected in the six months programme of the Presidency, which builds on five pillars: (1) managing the refugee crisis and Ukraine’s post-war recovery; (2) energy security; (3) strengthening Europe’s defence capabilities and cyberspace security; (4) strategic resilience of the European economy; and (5) resilience of democratic institutions. 

While welcoming the Czech Presidency’s priorities and supporting its upcoming work in the Council of the EU on these themes, the EAEP is concerned by the lack of special attention given to health-related matters. Indeed, healthcare plays as much of an instrumental role as energy security when it comes to “creating the conditions for the security and prosperity of the EU in the context of the European values of freedom, social justice, democracy and the rule of law and environmental responsibility”, as spelled out in the Presidency’s programme. In particular, the recently published European Health Data Space (EHDS) proposal, as well as the upcoming revision of the General Pharmaceuticals legislation, are of utmost importance for the whole healthcare domain, from patients to providers.  

The EAEP pledges to engage with the Czech Presidency and provide all the necessary support throughout the next months, with a view to contributing to the creation of a sound European Health Union.  

 

Profile: The European Association of E-Pharmacies (EAEP) represents the interests of e-pharmacies on the European continent. More than 20 million customers and patients across Europe are currently being supplied by our members and on top of that, our online pharmacies and their more than 4,000 employees are currently active in eleven European markets. Founded in 2001 as the EAMSP (European Association of Mail Service Pharmacies) and with its name change in February 2021, the EAEP voices its interests mainly with political stakeholders, regional and business actors, with the ultimate aim to improve the health of Europe’s citizens and strengthen the European healthcare system. E-Pharmacies have digitalised the classical pharmacy, and therefore act at the crossroads of digitalisation, healthcare, e-commerce and sustainability. As pioneers in providing digital solutions and our innovative and secure processes in dealing with health data, offering medicinal products and digital healthcare service while complying with national and EU law, the EAEP members continuously seek for ways to enhance the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare for Europeans.

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