Inside EU Health: Biosimilars; EMA; cardiovascular; healthcare workforce; equal pay; nicotine pouches; EU KIDS Act
Biosimilar uptake; EMA recommendations; parliament’s cardiovascular report; ‘Fair Labour Mobility’ package; gender pay gap; Germany debates nicotine pouches: EU Kids Act targets social media’s impact on children’s mental health
Biosimilar uptake could unlock major savings for European healthcare systems
European health systems could unlock substantial savings by increasing the use of biosimilar medicines, but doing so will require a coordinated mix of procurement, prescribing and dispensing policies, according to a policy brief from the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.
The potential savings are significant. Research cited in the brief estimated that Spain saved €2.3 billion between 2009 and 2019 by adopting biosimilar medicines. Three substances (infliximab, somatropin and epoetin) accounted for 60% of the savings, while in 2019 alone biosimilars generated savings equivalent to 3.92% of Spain’s total pharmaceutical expenditure.
Catherine Feore
EMA backs 12 new medicines, alongside key label expansions
The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended 12 new medicines for approval at its September 2026 meeting, while backing extensions of indication for 11 existing medicines.
Catherine Feore
Parliament rallies behind Jerković’s plan to prevent cardiovascular disease
MEPs overwhelmingly backed Romana Jerković’s cardiovascular health report, as Commissioner Várhelyi reaffirmed plans for tougher EU action on tobacco and emerging nicotine products.
Catherine Feore
‘Fair Labour Mobility’ package could help EU's healthcare workforce
The EU’s Fair Labour Mobility Package aims to speed up the recognition of qualifications, including for non-EU professionals.
The European Commission has unveiled what it calls an ambitious “Fair Labour Mobility” package aimed at making it easier for people to work across EU borders while strengthening protections against exploitation and fraud.
Catherine Feore
European Parliament backs EU health workforce crisis plan
The European Parliament has backed calls for an EU-wide strategy to tackle worsening shortages of healthcare professionals, including an ambition to increase the health workforce by one million, as doctors, nurses, pharmacists and dentists urged the European Commission to turn the recommendations into concrete action.
Catherine Feore
Women health workers face 28% monthly pay gap across Europe
Women working in health and care across Europe earn substantially less than their male colleagues, with a gender pay gap of 19% per hour and 28% per month, according to new analysis by WHO/Europe.
“Women make up the majority of the people who keep Europe's health systems running, yet they're paid less than their male counterparts, a gap that compounds over a lifelong career,” said Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Director of WHO/Europe’s Division for Health Systems.
Catherine Feore
European health groups warn against weakening German rules on nicotine pouches
European health organisations are urging Germany to maintain its ban on nicotine pouches, arguing it could undermine efforts to develop coherent EU-wide nicotine regulations.
The Smoke Free Partnership is backing the German Medical Association’s call for the German government to maintain restrictions preventing the sale of nicotine pouches, amid growing political debate over possible legalisation.
“We cannot afford to trade public health for revenue and repeat the mistakes of the past by allowing commercial interests to shape the environment in which a new generation becomes addicted to nicotine,” said Erin Roman, Director of the Smoke Free Partnership.
Catherine Feore
EU Kids Act targets social media’s impact on children’s mental health
The European Commission unveiled its EU Kids Act on Thursday (17 September), proposing sweeping restrictions on children’s access to social media and new obligations on technology companies to address growing concerns over young people’s mental health and online safety.
The proposal would prevent children under 13 from accessing social media, while 13- and 14-year-olds could use restricted “mini accounts” under parental supervision. From the age of 15, teenagers would be able to open their own social media accounts. The legislation also requires platforms to prove their services are safe for minors, reversing the burden of proof from regulators to technology companies.
Catherine Feore