#EAPM - Romania sets its stall out while US aims to trump drug prices

As the year marches on we’re drawing near to the end of the current Austrian Presidency of the EU, with Romania next in line (from 1 January, 2019), writes European Alliance for Personalised Medicine (EAPM) Executive Director Denis Horgan.

It will be Romania’s first-ever rotating presidency and, not through coincidence, at the recent Strasbourg plenary, European Parliamentarians engaged in a debate with the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, on the future of Europe.

In-between now and Bucharest taking over the hot seat, EAPM of course has its Congress at the end of November and will be working with Romania down the line, so this debate was of particular interest.

The Congress takes place in Milan and, despite having an extra hour at the weekend when the clocks change, the time to register is fast-running out.

If you haven’t put your name down already, you can do so here.

But back to the debate…during which Mr Iohannis outlined his positive vision for the future of Europe, and favouring a more unitary approach, building on the rich diversity of the member states.

He talked about the need to strengthen cohesion to create added value and ultimately, ensure an inclusive future Europe for all European citizens and member states. One of his country’s priorities, he said, is digitization and digital skills.

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said he considered the debate on the Future of Europe a timely one, as it contributed to giving a fresh light to the European dream.

For his part, the Romanian President spoke about a European identify based on shared principles, values and common interest. These common values must be constantly rediscovered and re-appreciated, he added, noting also that the EU should not leave behind any member state or citizen.

President Iohannis said that Europe must remain a global leader in various fields, especially when it comes to the technological and digital revolution. Although he didn’t specifically mention the healthcare sector, this is obviously included.

Europe has the capacity and power to be a leader in connectivity, he said. Growth and stability, competitiveness, security and the improvement of the quality of life of all Europeans depend on how ambitious and resolute Europe is regarding digitization, research and innovation.

Digital transformation cannot be achieved without a massive investment in education and the required new skills, the president insisted.

Iohannis highlighted that everywhere in Romania thousands of talented Romanian engineers work to advance digital technologies, 5G, the Internet of Things and more. The data economy is the future, said the president, adding that it should not surprise anyone that Romania wants and has the capacity to contribute to strengthening the Union's global role in this area.

During the debate, MEP Manfred Weber pointed out that the European elections will take place during the Romanian Presidency. For a democratic Europe, a diversity of candidates is needed, supported by a programme, content and new ideas.

Josef Weidenholzer called Romania an important member of the EU, with a huge potential and an economic growth way above the European average, not only thanks to the IT sector, in which is making a huge contribution to the economic development of other countries.

President Iohannis said that one of the current problems that Europe is facing is the lack of link between citizens and politicians. Citizens do not understand what politicians do, and, unfortunately, some politicians do not understand what citizens want.

Equitable health care would be a great start, EAPM believes.

President Iohannis also mentioned the Multiannual Financial Framework – of which healthcare plays a crucial part. Progress on this dossier is needed, he said. The fact that Parliament is encouraging the Council to go for a budget increase is, in his opinion, a good thing, but negotiations will have to continue. The president committed on behalf of Romania to get involved and hoped to at least achieve significant progress in sensitive areas concerning the budget.

During the deabate, President Iohannis emphasized once again the concept of "unity in diversity" and concluded by reiterating key aspects that would shape the future of the EU: unity, cohesion, proximity to citizens, internal security, border security, weight in international policy, diversity. These themes concern everyone, all Europeans.

President Iohannis said it was a key duty not only to find answers, but also policies and apply in practice what is important to citizens and to the EU.

Trumpeting medicines pricing

In the same week that Romania’s president was speaking, his US counterpart Donald Trump unveiled his plans to change how Medicare pays for certain medicines.

Sticking to his usual ‘America First’ script, he attacked what he called “foreign freeloaders” and accused them of driving up costs.

The initiative relates to a campaign pledge in which he promised to lower the price of pharmaceuticals.

The timing is no coincidence, coming just before the mid-term elections, and health care is proving to be a big issue as polling day draws near.

Trump’s proposal only applies to medicines administered in doctors’ offices and outpatient hospital departments - such as for cancer treatments and others. Prescription drugs available at pharmacies are not included.

“For decades other countries have rigged the system so that American patients are charged much more - and in some cases much, much more - for the exact same drug,” the president said. “In other words Americans pay more so other countries can play less.”

Unfortunately for the president, hospitals, doctors and pharmaceutical are less-than-enamoured of a plan that will cost much of the health sector money. “Nobody’s going to like this,” said one official. “It antagonizes too many people.”

It is believed that three pharmaceutical companies, namely Roche, Amgen and Regeneron, will be hit hard under Trump’s plan, although the industry is a powerful lobbyist.

On the other hand, the proposal looks likely to appeal to patients, given the lower prices. Bottom line, the president is blaming other countries for paying too little for drugs and relying on Americans to absorb higher prices that go on to fund innovation in the pharma industry. He basically wants other nations to pay more for medicines.

That’s not going to be popular in the EU, that’s for sure…

As ever, EAPM will be following the Romanian and Trump plans closely and there will certainly be debates on the topics at the Congress in Milan.

To view the programme, please click here.

To register, please click here.