We are witnessing a pivotal moment in European healthcare. Great strides in health policy have been made since the COVID-19 pandemic, most notably the European Commission’s proposed reform to the EU Pharmaceutical Legislation – the largest reform in 20 years. It offers the EU an opportunity to ensure that every citizen has timely and equitable access to safe, effective and affordable medicines now and in the future.
On top, the publication of the EU's first Critical Medicines list in December 2023, the formation of the Critical Medicines Alliance in April 2024, and the upcoming Critical Medicines Act have all advanced discussions on measures that could strengthen access to essential medicines across Europe.
Viatris welcomes these developments and is committed to supporting efforts to close access gaps and enhance supply chain resilience across Member States.
Now is the time to foster further collaboration between policymakers, pharmaceutical leaders and key stakeholders including patients, so that together we can lay the foundation for a stronger European Health Union that serves the needs of every citizen.
A commitment to Europe
At Viatris, our mission is to empower people worldwide to live healthier lives at every stage, regardless of geography or circumstance, by providing access to high-quality medicines.
Globally operating in over 165 countries and territories, we are dedicated to supporting a resilient, sustainable healthcare system. We are currently supplying high-quality medicines to approximately 1 billion patients around the world annually1, and we have a strong European presence, through:
- Significant footprint: We are one of the leading off-patent medicines providers in Europe2, and we are active in 38 European countries.
- Broad reach and extensive portfolio: Our commitment to Europe is reflected in the over 32 billion doses of medicines4 we supply to European patients each year. We offer a broad and diverse portfolio of generics and off-patent brands, encompassing over 700 molecules5 available across European markets and spanning various therapeutic areas. We bridge the traditional divide between generic and branded drugs, with a robust supply chain designed to reach more patients.
- Dedicated workforce: With approximately 10,000 employees across the continent, we carry out all aspects of drug development and delivery, including manufacturing, packaging and commercial operations.
- Reliable, steady supply: Our global, flexible and diverse supply chain relies on 26 manufacturing and packaging facilities and 10 development centers, including 13 in Europe, as well as a large network of contracted sites spanning across almost all continents. This network is designed to decrease risks of disruption and support reliable supply of much-needed medicines even in the face of demand volatility in Europe.
More than this, we know that being a strong partner in the EU goes beyond making and supplying high-quality medicines. Securing the future of our healthcare system can only be achieved through partnership, collaboration, strong policies and healthcare systems that foster access and supply security for all European patients.
Only by working together can we foster better access at scale for all EU citizens. This platform sets forth our vision for how, centered around our three core focus areas for improving access to medicines.
