The European Parliament has voted in favor of a new law called the Critical Medicines Act. Most members supported it by a huge margin. The aim of this law is to make sure that people in the European Union (EU) always have access to important medicines like antibiotics, insulin, vaccines, and painkillers.
The law was first proposed by the European Commission in March 2025. It was created because many countries in Europe have faced problems getting enough important medicines. These shortages happened when factories could not make enough drugs, or when supply chains were weak and dependent on a few foreign suppliers.
The Critical Medicines Act wants to improve the production and supply of these important drugs inside the EU. The goal is to reduce dependence on medicines and raw ingredients from outside Europe. This law also encourages cooperation between EU countries so they can work together to buy and share medicines during shortages.
Under this act, the EU would support Strategic Projects for medicines that are important. These projects would get easier access to funding and help build production capacity in Europe. The aim is to make sure that EU citizens do not face shortage of important medicines during their treatment.
The EU Parliament also wants to change how medicine contracts are given. Instead of choosing suppliers only by lowest price, the rules would include security of supply as a key factor. This means suppliers that can provide medicines on time without problems would get preference.
Another important part of the plan is to improve stockpiling and joint procurement. Stockpiling means storing a reserve of certain medicines, so when there is a shortage, supplies are ready. Joint procurement means that several EU countries would work together to buy medicines, giving them better discounts and making supply more reliable.
Supporters of the law say it is necessary because the COVID‑19 and other recent events showed that it can be hard to fulfill medicine need in emergencies. They believe that by producing more medicines in Europe and working together, the EU will be better prepared for future health emergencies.
However, not everyone agrees with this law. People who disagree, including groups in the pharmaceutical industry, have pointed out some valid concerns. They worry that prioritizing EU‑based suppliers could reduce global supply and raise medicine prices. They also say that focusing only on a few production goals might not always lead to the best solutions for patients.
There are also global concerns. Groups in Africa have warned that the law could lead to higher prices and less availability of medicines in poorer countries if the EU reserves large amounts of medicines. They say this could make it harder for these countries to build their own pharmaceutical industries.
The next step is for the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the EU to start discussion on final decision. If they agree, the act could become a new rule for all EU countries.
In simple terms, the Critical Medicines Act is part of a bigger effort to make sure that people in Europe always get the medicines when they need, even during global problems or supply issues. Supporters hope this will make medicine supply stronger and more reliable across the EU.