HAI Europe contributes to European Union (EU) policy that promotes universal and equitable access to affordable needed medicines of assured quality and policy and practice that ensures those medicines are used rationally. HAI Europe’s work plan 2015-2017 is dedicated to identify, monitor and support EU policies that provide a response to persistent shortfalls in access to medicines and that are aligned with HAI’s overarching goals on Access to Needed Medicines, Rational Use of Medicines and Democratisation of Medicines Policy in Europe. HAI will work towards these goals through research, evidence-based policy analysis and intervention, training and information sharing. As a result, HAI will advocate for citizen-centred public health policies that address health challenges in the EU and health inequity both within and between EU member states. HAI Europe’s multi-annual programme addresses the objectives of the Third Health Programme and contributes to EU added-value by supporting medicines policies that have the potential to maximise the impact of policy intervention at a regional level, and thereby contributes to better and safer healthcare for EU citizens. HAI Europe is a non-profit, independent NGO and maintains a membership network of consumers, healthcare providers, academics and public interest groups working on pharmaceutical policy issues in Europe. The growing European regional network is represented in over half of EU Member States. The HAI Europe office coordinates actions with the HAI Europe Members Association, and integrates its work in collaboration with other European civil society organisations.
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Health Action International (HAI)'s European 2018 work plan builds on previous work supported by CHAFEA and aims to provide a response to persistent shortfalls in European medicines policy and regulation. HAI’s work plan is aligned with the objectives of the Third Health Programme and with HAI’s organisational goals: (1) Access to Affordable Medicines, (2) Medicines Safety, Added Therapeutic Value and Responsible Use, (3) Democratisation of Medicines Policy.

HAI will keep on addressing those factors affecting access to medicines, including Intellectual Property rights while campaigning to broaden public and policy support to alternative models of biomedical innovation that contribute to medicines affordability and ensure public return on public investment. Advice and support will be provided to measures enhancing generic competition while bolstering governments position in procurement and medicines price negotiations.
As a member of the HTA Network Stakeholders Pool, HAI will contribute to the work of the network and issue recommendations to ensure that collaborative efforts strengthen the quality and robustness of HTA systems in Europe with the ultimate goal to enhance the sustainability of healthcare systems. Regarding the little (or non-existing) added therapeutic value of many new medicines, HAI will seek policy and regulatory support for more robust frameworks for medicines market approval; this will include initiatives for more proactive and robust pharmacovigilance systems to further protect patients’ safety. As a member of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Patients’ and Consumers’ Working Party (PCWP), HAI will bring an independent consumers’ voice to EMA’s discussions and public consultations. We will closely follow developments in public access to clinical data in the EU and issue recommendations for enhanced transparency. In addition, we will implement initiatives to promote rational use of medicines by healthcare professionals.
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Health Action International’s (HAI) 2019 European workplan builds on previous successes supported by CHAFEA. It provides a response to persistent shortcomings in European medicines policy and regulation. HAI’s workplan is aligned with the objectives of the Third Health Programme and with HAI’s organisational goals: (1) Access to Affordable Medicines, (2) Medicines Safety, Added Therapeutic Value and Responsible Use, (3) Democratisation of Medicines Policy. In 2019, HAI will continue to address factors affecting access to medicines, including Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) while campaigning to broaden public and policy support in the European Union for alternative models of biomedical innovation that prioritise unmet medical needs, contribute to medicines affordability and ensure public return on public investment. Through the ‘Our Medicines, Our Right’ Campaign, we will seek to broaden policy support to medicines price transparency and R&D costs, as well as needs driven R&D modelling. We will roll-out campaign activities in Germany and thereby build bridges between policy discussions at the EU and Member State level. HAI will, furthermore, implement initiatives to promote responsible use of medicines, including antibiotics, by healthcare professionals. As a member of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Network Stakeholders Pool, HAI will contribute to the work programme of the network and advocate for strengthened EU collaboration on HTA. We will advocate specifically for joint HTA to be driven by high evaluation standards, transparency and independence from commercial interests. HAI will also seek policy and regulatory support for a more robust EU framework for medicines market authorization, in particular for cancer medicines. As a member of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Patients’ and Consumers’ Working Party (PCWP), HAI will bring an independent consumers’ voice to EMA’s discussions and public consultations.
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Health Action International’s work in Europe focuses on improving access to medicines through evidence-based advocacy, sharing expertise and engaging for change. To do this we campaign for greater transparency, and rationally used, affordable, safe and effective medicines.

PRIORITIES FOR 2021
European Parliament Working Group on Innovation, Access to Medicines and Poverty-related Diseases: HAI and MSF provide the secretariat for a group of European Parliamentarians interested in access to medicines issues. Over 2021 we will mobile this group to advocate on numerous issues.

Furthermore, we aim to change the narrative around TRIPS flexibilities to encourage more regular use of these legitimate tools. In 2021, we will implement the conclusions of the Great Health Hack, including producing the beta version of the technical solution suggested by participants. We hope to broaden understanding of the evidence base behind IP flexibilities and facilitate more policymakers to support implementation of a sustainable pricing system.

We will continue to share our recommendations how Member States can achieve greater transparency in medicines prices, research and development (R&D) costs and reimbursement decisions.

We will facilitate medical students and healthcare professionals to detect, counter and avoid exposure to pharmaceutical promotion.

As always, there will be many other upcoming issues and opportunities in access to medicines this year, both regionally and globally. We will be watching how other dossiers and events unfold in the fight against medicine shortages, also in light of COVID-19.

We pride ourselves on being active members of European civil society and part of the global access to medicines movement, via groups like the European Alliance for Responsible R&D and Affordable Medicines, Medicijnen Netwerk Nederland, HTA Network Stakeholder Pool and the EMA PCWP.

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HAI Europe contributes to European Union (EU) policy that promotes universal and equitable access to affordable needed medicines of assured quality and policy and practice that ensures those medicines are used rationally. HAI Europe’s work plan 2015-2017 is dedicated to identify, monitor and support EU policies that provide a response to persistent shortfalls in access to medicines and that are aligned with HAI’s overarching goals on Access to Needed Medicines, Rational Use of Medicines and Democratisation of Medicines Policy in Europe. HAI will work towards these goals through research, evidence-based policy analysis and intervention, training and information sharing. As a result, HAI will advocate for citizen-centred public health policies that address health challenges in the EU and health inequity both within and between EU member states. HAI Europe’s multi-annual programme addresses the objectives of the Third Health Programme and contributes to EU added-value by supporting medicines policies that have the potential to maximise the impact of policy intervention at a regional level, and thereby contributes to better and safer healthcare for EU citizens. HAI Europe is a non-profit, independent NGO and maintains a membership network of consumers, healthcare providers, academics and public interest groups working on pharmaceutical policy issues in Europe. The growing European regional network is represented in over half of EU Member States. The HAI Europe office coordinates actions with the HAI Europe Members Association, and integrates its work in collaboration with other European civil society organisations.
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