In the last couple of years, rare diseases have started to be recognised as a Public Health priority and as an area of unique European added-value for Community action. Starting with the very successful Public Consultation on Rare Diseases in November 2007, followed by the adoption of the Commission Communication on Rare Diseases, in November 2008 and more recently the adoption of a Council Recommendation on a European Action in the field of Rare Diseases, each step has demonstrated the vital importance of EU action and cooperation between Member States. The two levels, European and national, are key factors of success in this area which is currently “politically weight-bearing” and which corresponds to a real need in the patient population.
This decision is part of a significant reshuffle of responsibilities assigned to each Designated Commissionner in the Barosso II European College of Commissionners. For this decision to be implemented the new Commissionners need first to be approved by the European Parliament in January / February. This transfer is an important change. All [...]
The European Union and its Member States are faced with the challenge of an emerging field in medicine: personalised medicine. Therapeutic interventions, and in particular medicinal products, are increasingly intended for well targeted and smaller patient populations.
These interventions are usually intended for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, cure or long term management of severe, debilitating, life-threatening [...]
