Less bureaucracy, more ventilators and masks

The EPP Group will vote for the postponement by one year of the entry-into-force of new, stricter rules regarding the production of medical devices such as respiratory ventilators and facemasks.

"This health crisis has put our medical devices industry under enormous pressure to meet the immediate demands of the healthcare sector. We must help by pressing the pause button on the new rules until things return to normal", said Mairead McGuinness MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Peter Liese MEP, the EPP Group’s Spokesman for Health, ahead of the vote in the European Parliament today.

For the EPP Group, who initiated this postponement, such a move is crucial. "We want to avoid situations where companies do not have access to certain product parts to make essential healthcare equipment. Our duty is to remove any bottlenecks in the system. The new Medical Devices Regulation is important and will be implemented. We are asking the industry now to refocus on producing the equipment to fight COVID-19 and save lives. Medicines and medical equipment must be available to all", said McGuinness.

"Manufacturers do not have time for paperwork and long procedures the new rules would entail. What we need now is fast action and as much help as possible for patients who are fighting for their lives", added Liese.