Health insurers say EU unity can counter Washington's 'divide and conquer' approach
Consumer groups and the generics sector have urged the European Commission and national governments to stop sitting on the sidelines as the US administration ramps up pressure on drug pricing.
At an event organised by consumer group BEUC on Thursday, they warned that Trump’s plan to tie US drug prices to the lowest in other wealthy countries – known as a ‘most-favoured-nation’ (MFN) policy – would harm patients on both sides of the Atlantic.
“The European Commission needs to express its position,” said Adrien van den Hoven, director-general of generics group Medicines for Europe, who warned that trade negotiations are typically an exclusive EU competence.
“I wonder if the European Commission is just going to sit on the sidelines and allow Germany or France or other individual countries to negotiate with the US on trade.”
