Hearing of Olivér Várhelyi (Nov. 2024)

Hearing of Olivér Várhelyi - EU Commissioner-Designate for Health and Animal Welfare

On November 6, 2024, Olivér Várhelyi, the Commissioner-Designate for Health and Animal Welfare, had his confirmation hearing at the European Parliament. The EANM monitored the hearing closely, especially discussions related to our field.

Critical Medicines Act
Várhelyi committed to publishing the Critical Medicines Act within 100 days, emphasising its role in strengthening the EU’s strategic autonomy and ensuring a stable supply of medicines, particularly in smaller markets. Key measures will include supporting local pharmaceutical production, encouraging joint procurement, and streamlining administrative processes to retain SMEs within the EU. He also highlighted incentives for raw material production and clinical trial support.

Pharmaceutical Legislation
Addressing the balance between innovation and market needs, Várhelyi proposed controlled exclusivity measures while advocating for patents as a driver of innovation. He underscored the need for market restructuring to improve medicine access in smaller EU countries and outlined plans to address healthcare workforce shortages through enhanced training and increased technology use.

Medical Devices Regulations
Várhelyi announced a review of current medical device regulations, including implementation acts for paediatric and orphan devices, scheduled for the first quarter of 2025.

What’s Next?
Olivér Várhelyi did not secure immediate approval from Committee coordinators, who requested a second round of written questions for further clarification on his positions. The decision on his appointment has been delayed, with a final verdict expected after Wednesday, November 13.

Watch the hearing

Published online: November 12, 2024.