Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The EU has announced it is taking urgent action to combat what it calls a “clear cross border health threat.”
The European Commission says it wants to tackle diphtheria “in a timely manner.”
The Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) has signed a joint procurement framework contract on behalf of EU Member States for the supply of a medicine used to treat diphtheria with the pharmaceutical company Scandinavian Biopharma Distribution AB.
Eight EU Member States are participating in the agreement, under which they can jointly purchase 1,600 vials of diphterheria antitoxin.
Comment on the move came on Wednesday from Stella Kyriakides, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.
She said: “Ensuring access to medicines is key for our European Health Union.
“Through this joint procurement, we are taking further action, together with our Member States, to protect the health of European citizens against a clear cross border health threat.
“Diphtheria is a rare yet serious infection that can prove deadly, especially for children. We must ensure that those who need treatment are able to access it in a timely manner.”
While diphtheria is a rare disease in the EU and the spread has been under control and largely prevented through vaccination, occasional cases persist.
With a decrease in cases worldwide, including the EU/EEA, there are very few manufacturers of diphtheria antitoxin, making it more difficult for Member States to access the product.
HERA has carried out the joint procurement to facilitate access of the Member States to the medicine.
On Wednesday, an EC spokesman said, “This voluntary mechanism offers participating countries a possibility to jointly procure medical countermeasures as an alternative or complement to procurement at national level.
“The aim of the joint procurement mechanism is to secure equitable access to specific medical countermeasures and to improve the security of supply, thereby contributing to the prevention of and preparedness for potential future health crises.”
