A look into the SANT Subcommittee
On July 23, the European Parliament's committees elected their chairs and vice-chairs for the next two and a half years. The SANT subcommittee is responsible for public health, pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, and supervises the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). It is a new committee based on a split from the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee (ENVI) in March 2023, and although the subcommittee has been solidified, voting on legislative proposals still lies with ENVI.
Below are insights into the recent elections of chairs and vice-chairs for the SANT Subcommittee:
New leadership
Polish MEP Adam Jarubas from the European People's Party (EPP) was re-elected chair of the subcommittee by acclamation. He said he was honoured to continue in the role and address the "long list of urgent issues", as well as continuing on the previous mandate on the pharmaceutical package, critical medicines, non-communicable diseases, and the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan. In addition, he also highlighted the need to go further to create a Mental Health Action Plan, to support youth in the digital era, the role of AI in health, and more. His final words highlighted the mission of the subcommittee - “health may depend on DNA code, but it must not depend on postal code”.
Greens MEP Tilly Metz from Luxembourg was elected 1st Vice-Chair for the subcommittee, with previous experience as President of Multiple Sclerosis Lëtzebuerg in Luxembourg, an organisation promoting access to diagnosis and familial support for patients with MS. In the parliament, she was the Greens shadow negotiator for the vote on the pharmaceutical strategy report and advocates for increased psychedelic-assisted therapy.
The remaining vice chair positions went to Renew MEP Stine Bosse from Denmark in her first mandate ever, Socialists & Democrats (S&D) MEP Romana Jerković from Crotia, and European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) MEP Emmanouil Fragkos from Greece. The first three vice chairs (Metz, Bosse, Jerković) were all elected by acclamation, with only Fragkos elected by a secret ballot with 18 votes in favour, 5 against, 6 abstentions. Alongside these, the full group is made of 30 MEPs, many of which are also, like Bosse, in their first term.
Looking forward
As public health begins to take a larger role in the EU, and as the likelihood of new pandemics, mental health crises, and medicines shortages increases, the SANT subcommittee will deal with a myriad of challenges in its first full term. The first ordinary meeting of the SANT subcommittee is scheduled to take place on 5 September 2024, followed in October with their first hearing titled ‘Tackling access to and security of supply of critical medicines’.
Curious to know more? Don’t hesitate and reach out to the health team in Brussels for more information.