Call for EU to make own medicines to counter coronavirus outbreak amid fears of shortages
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Europe is working with China to meet a shortfall in protective equipment against the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, ministers said on Thursday amid fears of a global shortage of drugs and masks.
At an emergency meeting in Brussels, European Union health ministers agreed to boost preparations and organise a coordinated response to prevent the virus that emerged in China from further spreading across Europe.
They said more planning was needed to avoid possible shortages of medicine or equipment.
Asked whether the EU could close Europe’s visa-free Schengen travel zone if the epidemic escalates, Croatian Health Minister Vili Beros said the bloc could indeed undertake further action. “If that means the closing of borders, we shall discuss it,” he said.
European Commissioner in charge of Health Stella Kyriakides and Crotatian Health Minister Vili Beros (R) give a press conference at the end of an special European health ministers meeting on Coronavirus in Brussels, Belgium 13 February 2020. EPA-EFE/OLIVIER HOSLET
European Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides told a news conference, however, said the current outbreak does not call for such drastic measures.
Many countries have implemented travel restrictions on recent visitors to China but Dutch Health Minister Bruno Bruins encouraged EU members to avoid additional travel and trade restrictions.
Bruins also expressed concerns that Europe’s supply of medicines was “dependent on a single country.”
“We need to assess the extent of possible shortages together, at the European level,” he told reporters.
Pavel Malus from Czech Nanotechnology Industries Association demonstrates a respirator at Pardam nanotechnology company in Roudnice nad Labem, Czech Republic. The outbreak of the deadly coronavirus in China, which has spread to countries across the world, has led to a massive surge in demand for protective face masks. EPA-EFE/MARTIN DIVISEK
German health minister Jens Spahn went further, saying: “We should start producing medicine more often within the European Union again.”
China manufactures key ingredients for everything from antibiotics and painkillers to antiretrovirals for HIV. The closure of many borders and the suspension of flights and shipping has caused delays to shipments of goods worldwide.
She said the EU was “ready to start joint procurement” with manufacturers in China to make enough personal protective equipment to meet demand.
“In addition to the 12 tons of personal protective equipment already provided, we are connecting Chinese authorities to companies manufacturing protective equipment in the EU.”
