The Critical Medicines Act

Medicine shortages are increasingly affecting patients across Europe, delaying treatments and putting pressure on healthcare systems.

In March 2025, the European Commission made a proposal for a Regulation known as the ‘Critical Medicines Act’. The Critical Medicines Act aims to reduce medicine shortages by strengthening the EU’s supply chains for medicines included in the Union’s list of critical medicines.It also aims to enhance access to medicines of common interest through joint procurement efforts. To be effective, the Regulation needs to ensure medicines’ affordability and support transparent investments maximising public return.

This factsheet outlines our recommendations.

More information and details about the Critical Medicines Act can be found in BEUC’s position paper.