#Zentiva #Czech Republic #Prague #EU Medicines #UWWTD

Zentiva's Urgent Call Against UWWTD Implementation

In a recent statement, Zentiva, a leading European manufacturer of affordable and high-quality medicines, voiced its concerns regarding the EU's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The company argues that the current form of the directive poses significant risks to the supply of essential medicines across Europe. Following a court ruling from the European General Court, which reaffirmed that Zentiva and other generic medicine manufacturers lack the legal standing to contest the directive, the urgency for a political response grows stronger.

Key Concerns of the UWWTD

The UWWTD, aimed at improving urban wastewater management, mandates pharmaceutical companies to partially bear the costs associated with wastewater treatment. Zentiva, along with 16 EU member states, has repeatedly raised alarms over the directive, which they argue is economically unfeasible for producers of non-patented drugs, where unit prices are often within a few cents. With their products regulated in terms of pricing, absorbing such costs could render the production of numerous essential drugs unsustainable, directly impacting patient access and treatment affordability.

Zentiva's CEO, Steffen Saltofte, emphasized that while the directive is now in the implementation phase, its foundation is based on a flawed assessment that has been scientifically countered. He noted, “The directive compels the pharmaceutical industry to cover at least 80% of the costs associated with advanced wastewater treatment, which we maintain is unfeasible for generic medicines.”

Implications for Patients

As generic medicines account for approximately 70% of all prescribed drugs and 90% of critical medications, the full enactment of UWWTD could trigger severe shortages. The potential for mass drug deficits raises urgent questions about patient care and access to necessary treatments across all EU member states.

Zentiva calls for an inclusive dialogue involving EU institutions, member states, water supply operators, healthcare systems, and industry representatives to reassess the directive's impact. Saltofte stated, “As the CEO of a European company and president of Medicines for Europe, I cannot stand by and watch this happen. We must work together to amend the directive in a way that ensures clean water without jeopardizing the availability of and access to medicines.”

The Path Forward

Given the significant ramifications of the UWWTD implementation on drug affordability and supply, the call for a pause is more crucial than ever. Zentiva advocates for:

• - A halt on the current UWWTD implementation to facilitate a comprehensive dialogue.
• - New independent research based on sound scientific and economic data to evaluate the directive’s effects on drug availability and affordability.
• - A revision of the directive to ensure a functional framework that safeguards both environmental objectives and healthcare access.

About Zentiva

Founded with a mission of improving health and wellness, Zentiva is dedicated to producing safe and accessible medicines for over 100 million individuals in more than 40 countries. With a workforce of over 5,400 committed employees, the company aims to ensure that those in need have access to the medicines they rely on daily. For further information, visit Zentiva's website.