Health Minister, Mr. Simon Harris has encouraged all EU Health Ministers to work together to secure affordable access to new medicines for patients.
Minister Harris said “I fully support greater cooperation between EU Member States as a way of achieving better value for our health systems in the area of drug pricing. Improving co-operation and information sharing between countries can only result in better outcomes for Ireland, our fellow EU members, our patients and taxpayers”.
At an EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council Minister Harris also held key bi-lateral meetings to progress Ireland’s bid to secure the European Medicines Agency. The EMA will have to relocate from London to another EU Member State following the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
The Irish Minister held one-to-one discussions with Ministers for Health from Denmark, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Romania, Luxembourg and Lithuania.
During these meetings, Minister Harris outlined his view that a move by the EMA to Dublin would mean a seamless transition, ensuring the continued protection of EU citizens and providing reassurance to the industries which the EMA regulates.
Speaking about Ireland’s EMA bid, the Minister said “Dublin ticks every box for a successful bid, with geographical and cultural proximity for ease of transition, excellent air connectivity, world-class ICT services, an open and stable political system for long term certainty, Government commitment to the relocation project and a significant pool of highly skilled life science professionals.”
