For the past three decades, competition brought by accessible, affordable generic medicines has been key in extending access to life-saving medicines to millions of patients across Europe. It is our mission to provide essential medicines for patients, healthcare professionals and healthcare systems, covering a wide range of diseases, from cardiovascular diseases to diabetes and cancer.

The COVID-19 outbreak, inflation, and increasing cost of goods have all highlighted the link between access to treatment and the benefits of a robust medicines manufacturing sector for both patients and healthcare systems in a crisis. Since the demand for generic medicines continues to grow, now surpassing 70% of dispensed medicines in Europe, policy makers must recognise what these can offer beyond cost savings. Neglecting their contribution could exacerbate the challenges facing healthcare systems today, limiting the broader societal value that they bring and hindering their ability to deliver optimal patient care and achieve long-term sustainability.

Medicines for Europe together with IQVIA has published a report “Beneath the Surface: Unravelling the True Value of Generic Medicines” which demonstrates the pivotal role of generic medicines in enhancing access, ensuring financial sustainability, bolstering supply chain resilience, and improving patient outcomes.

Key insights from the study reveal compelling statistics:

• Nine out of ten medicines on the critical medicines list used in Europe are generic medicines, demonstrating their role in delivering essential healthcare.
• The future size of the opportunity from small molecules reaching Loss of Exclusivity (LoE) by 2027 is forecasted at nearly €10 billion, highlighting the substantial opportunities for generic medicines to contribute to future budget savings and improve access to medicines.
• 70% of shortages are associated with medicines having fewer than five suppliers, underscoring the importance of ensuring a robust supply chain for generic medicines and encouraging more diversification in the market.
• Generic medicines serve as the sole option for 40% of all off-patent molecules 20 years after LoE, emphasising their irreplaceable role in providing access to essential medications.

Considering this data, it is evident how our sector plays a pivotal role in bolstering healthcare systems and providing European patients with access to life-saving medicines. However, the sustainability of the system is under threat due to downward looking pricing policies and supply chain challenges. To address these issues, national governments must look beyond generic medicines as cost-saving tools. We need policy makers to cultivate an environment fostering innovation, competition, and investment, for equitable access to affordable medicines for all patients.

By embracing a comprehensive perspective and implementing policies that support the sustainable growth of the generic medicines industry, all patients across the EU will benefit from a more resilient, efficient, and patient-centred healthcare system.

We support proposals for an EU Critical Medicines Act, which would adapt regulatory and market policies to secure the supply of essential medicines. We are also looking forward to updated guidance on medicines procurement, which would support multiple suppliers and strengthen supply chains.
It is time to unlock the full potential of generic medicines and ensure that they continue to serve as a pivotal actor in granting accessible, high-quality healthcare in Europe for generations to come.

Arnaud Mahéas – Head Public Affairs Europe – Sandoz

Arnaud is the Head of Public Affairs Europe at Sandoz. He is responsible for public and government affairs at EU and national levels in more than 40 countries. His focus is to expand patient access, regain pricing flexibility, promote smart procurement and resilient supply for generic and biosimilar medicines. Since 2023, he has chaired the Generic Medicines Market Access Committee at Medicines for Europe.

Arnaud is a highly experienced public affairs professional with a successful track record across multiple industries. He built and led the European public affairs practice at Servier and, prior to joining the healthcare industry 15 years ago, he headed the EU representation of the French national railway company (SNCF). He later managed strategic relations with the EU for the association of the top 100 companies operating in France (AFEP).

Arnaud holds a Master of Arts in European Administration and Politics from the College of Europe in Bruges and degrees in European Law and Government Affairs from the University of Rennes and Sciences Po Rennes.