Luxembourg is to receive a national agency for medicines and health products, in the form of a public institution. The corresponding bill was passed in the government council on Friday.
The prospective agency, which will form part of the Ministry of Health, will manage the potential risks that certain drugs, medical devices or health products may generate in public health matters and will thus guarantee a high level of health security for all health products throughout their cycle life (before, during and after their placing on the market).
In recent years, there has been a worrying increase in the number of drugs in partial or total shortage. The agency will make it possible to ensure the obligations of the industry to notify shortages but also to legitimately participate in the coordination initiatives of the network of European agencies and the EMA aimed at facilitating prevention, identification, management and communication regarding shortages. It will also promote rapid, supervised and broad access to all health products for the population.
