Medical countermeasures include medicines, medical devices and personal protective equipment.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in supply chains, crisis management and coordination between EU Member States. In addition, the war in Ukraine, nuclear threats and climate change have further underlined the need to strengthen preparedness within the EU.
In response, the EU has launched a Joint Action on Comprehensive and Sustainable Strategic Stockpiles of Medical Countermeasures used in Crisis (JA STOCKPILE).
The objective of the Joint Action is to strengthen preparedness for serious cross-border threats to health and to support the development of comprehensive and sustainable strategic stockpiles of medical countermeasures. This will enable faster distribution and deployment of medical countermeasures, improved use in crisis situations, and enhanced cooperation between Member States.
NOMA to co-lead Work Package on sustainable stockpile management
A total of 18 European countries and 27 national authorities are participating in the Joint Action. NOMA will first and foremost contribute to Work Package 8 Sustainable stockpile management. From Norway, the Directorate of Health, Western Norway Pharmaceutical Trust and the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority are also taking part.
WP8 – Sustainable stockpile management focuses on improving the sustainability and management of stockpiles of medical countermeasures, including issues related to shelf life, rotation and disposal. The project will particularly address the management of products that are rarely used outside crisis situations.
The work includes assessing whether regulatory frameworks allow for extended shelf life without compromising quality, as well as exploring possibilities for the donation of crisis-specific medical countermeasures approaching expiry. In some cases, trade and state-aid rules may pose barriers to such donations.