EU plans to stockpile medical supplies and boost pandemic readiness

Reuters
Reuters

The European Union is stepping up its health crisis preparedness by stockpiling essential medical supplies and boosting coordination among member states.

European crisis chief Hadja Lahbib said the EU will create a centralized list of priority medical items, including vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and work with member states to develop a coordinated stockpiling network.

Investments in the EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority will double to €200 million by 2027 to support research and development.

A new Medical Countermeasures Accelerator will help companies access funding to develop innovative health technologies, while a wastewater surveillance system at European airports will track potential outbreaks in real time.

The EU also plans to collaborate with NATO under the Medifence initiative to identify dual-use medical countermeasures suitable for both civilian and military use. 

Tags