Prime Minister Robert Abela's recent appeal at the European Union summit in Brussels brings to the forefront a pressing issue faced by peripheral countries like Malta in the European Union single market: equitable access to medicinal products.
His statement emphasises the geographical disadvantages that Malta faces when it comes to having access to critical healthcare resources. Abela's call to action for more equitable access is not only a plea for better healthcare for Maltese citizens, but also a broader advocacy for more inclusivity and competitiveness within the EU's internal market, particularly for countries that are geographically on the outskirts.
Malta, like other peripheral countries, faces unique challenges when it comes to the pharmaceutical sector. Pharmaceutical companies, distributors, and logistics providers often prioritise larger and more centrally located countries, such as Germany, Italy and France, for distribution, given their higher population densities and larger markets. This prioritisation can lead to delays and higher costs for Malta in obtaining essential medicines.
The fragmentation of the internal market in the pharmaceutical sector, as highlighted by Abela, exacerbates this problem. The EU's single market, which aims to facilitate the free movement of goods and services, has not fully achieved this goal within the pharmaceutical sector. Legislation that governs the distribution of medicinal products across EU member states can vary, leading to uneven access. The regulations that exist allow for discrepancies in pricing, supply chains, and availability, which disproportionately affect smaller and outlying countries.
Abela's statement acknowledges that the European Commission has recognised the challenges posed by this fragmentation. However, for meaningful change to occur, the European Commission must take a more active role in ensuring that the single market functions equitably for all member states, regardless of their size or geographical position. The Commission could work towards aligning pharmaceutical distribution laws across the EU, creating standardised policies that reduce market fragmentation and promote more uniform access to medicinal products.
Improving connectivity within the EU should include the strengthening of air and sea transport networks with the aim of reducing delays and ensure a more reliable and consistent flow of medicines. Embracing digital tools for tracking and managing the distribution of medicinal products could also enhance the efficiency of pharmaceutical supply chains.
A critical part of improving connectivity is harmonising regulatory frameworks across EU member states. Abela rightly points out the fragmentation in the current regulatory landscape, which leads to inefficiencies. A more unified regulatory approach would make it easier for pharmaceutical companies to supply medicinal products across the EU without facing different sets of rules or bureaucratic hurdles in each country. Such harmonisation would create a smoother flow of goods, benefiting smaller nations like Malta.
Abela's appeal underscores an important issue within the EU's single market: the need for equitable access to medicinal products for all. Further efforts are necessary to create a truly unified market that ensures fair competition and access for all member states. By improving connectivity, harmonising regulations, and investing in infrastructure, the EU can take meaningful steps toward addressing these disparities and ensuring that patients in Malta and similar countries are not disadvantaged due to geographical isolation. Only through such efforts can the EU uphold its commitment to fairness and equality in the single market.