The EU seeks self-reliance on medicines

The ideas and innovators shaping health care

May 12, 2023 View in browser   By Ben Leonard, Ruth Reader and Erin Schumaker WEEKEND READ European countries want more made-in-the-EU medicines. | Gerard Julien/AFP/Getty Images Reliance on foreign manufacturers slowed access to personal protective equipment during the pandemic and drew more attention to U.S. dependence on China for critical medicines. The European Union faces the same dilemma and is trying to do something about it. POLITICO’s Carlo Martuscelli reports that most EU countries have rallied around a proposal to create a “Critical Medicines Act” that would bolster domestic manufacturing. The act would encourage production of key drugs, plus pharmaceutical ingredients and basic chemicals, reducing dependence on China and India. The idea appears in a position paper dated Tuesday, drawn up by the Belgian government and backed by 18 other countries, including France and Germany. The EU capitals point out that 40 percent of all pharmaceutical ingredients globally are sourced from China and production for many of those products is concentrated in just a handful of manufacturing sites. “As a result, Europe (and the world) depend on a few manufacturers for a large bulk of their medicines supply,” notes the paper. What does the bill say? The paper doesn’t provide specifics, but indications are the plan is to pour money into the project because the paper says that legislation should follow the example of the European Chips Act and the Critical Raw Materials Act, which direct $47 billion in investments to encourage microchip manufacturing. Other ideas in the paper include a voluntary EU solidarity mechanism that would let countries quickly exchange stocks of drugs during shortages and the creation of a European list of critical medicines for special monitoring. Who’s on board? Besides Belgium, France and Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Spain, Estonia, Slovenia, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, Greece, Malta, Poland, Italy and Portugal signed the position paper.   DON’T MISS THE POLITICO ENERGY SUMMIT: A new world energy order is emerging and America’s place in it is at a critical juncture. Join POLITICO on Thursday, May 18 for our first-ever energy summit to explore how the U.S. is positioning itself in a complicated energy future. We’ll explore progress on infrastructure and climate funding dedicated to building a renewable energy economy, Biden’s environmental justice proposals, and so much more. REGISTER HERE.     WELCOME TO FUTURE PULSE Acadia National Park, Maine | Shawn Zeller This is where we explore the ideas and innovators shaping health care. GOP Rep. Mike Flood, who’s represented an eastern Nebraska district since last year, is taking Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's worries about an epidemic of loneliness seriously. Flood has asked his colleagues in the House to pass a resolution expressing Congress’ concern. Share any thoughts, news, tips and feedback with Ben Leonard at bleonard@politico.com, Ruth Reader at rreader@politico.com, Carmen Paun at cpaun@politico.com or Erin Schumaker at eschumaker@politico.com. Send tips securely through SecureDrop, Signal, Telegram or WhatsApp. Today on our Pulse Check podcast, your host Ruth talks with Megan Messerly about the Democratic lawmakers in some states who are hesitant to expand health coverage to low-income undocumented immigrants because of budgetary concerns, leading some immigration advocates wondering how committed to the issue those Democrats really are. Listen to today’s Pulse Check podcast   GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE.     FORWARD THINKING A compulsion to look at selfies can harm adolescents, the American Psychological Association says. | Getty Images Social media needs to change to protect kids.  That’s according to a new report from the American Psychological Association. The organization issued guidelines for parents and schools on how to help keep adolescents safe online. “No one knew what we now know about the developing adolescent brain when these platforms were made,” said Mitchell Prinstein, the APA’s chief science officer. “But we now know that kids are not able to stop themselves from seeking social pleasure in the way that adults can.” What can be done? The organization lists 10 recommendations that involve cultivating positive use of social media through a combination of parental oversight, discussion and in-school training on how the websites work and their potential harms. For example, the APA suggests that parents monitor social media use by 10- to 14-year-olds. That includes viewing the kind of content they’re exposed to and helping them set privacy restrictions and navigate difficult social interactions. The group also calls for regular screenings to ensure teens aren’t developing an addictive or problematic relationship with social media. Additionally, the report outlines the content and interactions most associated with poor mental health for teens. They are: — Bullying. Research shows that kids exposed to online discrimination and hate have increased anxiety and depression.   — Social comparison content. Posts that prompt kids to compare their physical appearance to others’ negatively impact their overall mental health. — Self-harm. Research shows exposure to self-harm, suicide, disordered eating and other detrimental behavior may inspire like behavior among vulnerable youth. The report argues that social media networks should remove and deprioritize content that could hurt kids. What’s next? To better inform future social media legislation, the APA calls for more research.  The Children and Media Research Advancement Act, which passed as part of Congress’ fiscal 2023 spending bill, provides the National Institutes of Health with funding to conduct that research.   Follow us on Twitter Ben Leonard @_BenLeonard_ Ruth Reader @RuthReader Carmen Paun @carmenpaun Erin Schumaker @erinlschumaker   Follow us

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