On Thursday, 16 July, EU Health Ministers joined together through a video conference to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to find common solutions during the German presidency of the EU Council. The video conference of EU Health Ministers replaced the Informal Council of Health Ministers, which was originally due to take place in Bonn. The conference was chaired by the Health Minister Jehn Spahn, with the participation of Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides. Slovakia was represented by the Minister of Health of the Slovak Republic Marek Krajčí. Ministers also discussed strengthening the mandate of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC); Whereas strengthening it is a necessity given the current pandemic and future health crises. Resort representatives also discussed the subject of the availability of medicines, since the production of active substances for essential medicines is increasingly concentrated outside the EU in third countries and in some cases is limited to few production sites. Ministers therefore also discussed how the EU could strengthen its sovereignty in the field of sufficient medical products, including through the "Farma Strategy" currently under preparation by the European Commission. Minister for Health Marek Krajčí stressed that any incentives for the farm industry must, on the one hand, reflect the needs of the market, but on the other, be fully beneficial to patients. It welcomed the "Farma Strategy" prepared by the European Commission and insisted that this strategy should include long-term solutions to the problems in the supply chain linked to the production of active substances, as well as fair distribution of vaccines, while all proposed activities must respect the national competences of the Member States. If, according to Marek, the Krajčí Member States act together, it will be better to avoid shortages of medical products. This is why we need better dialogue with stakeholders and regular mapping of the situation by both the European Medicines Agency and the national medicines agencies.
