New EU Health Commissioner (Nov. 2024)

Olivér Várhelyi - New EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare

After several days of negotiations in the European Parliament following his confirmation hearing, it was announced on November 20, 2024, that Olivér Várhelyi (Hungary) will assume the role of Health Commissioner starting December 1, 2024. The EANM closely followed the process, paying particular attention to discussions relevant 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?
Although Várhelyi did not secure immediate approval from the Committee coordinators, who requested additional written responses to clarify his positions, the final decision on his appointment was announced yesterday. Várhelyi will begin his term of office on December 1. As part of the agreement, certain responsibilities have been reassigned: crisis preparedness and management, including oversight of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Department (HERA), will now fall under the remit of Crisis Commissioner Hadja Lahbib.

Watch the confirmation hearing

Published online: November 21, 2024.