The European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), working with the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, have today launched the Critical Medicines Alliance at the margins of the informal EPSCO Council meeting of health ministers, as part of the actions to build a strong European Health Union. The Alliance brings together national authorities, industry, healthcare organisations, civil society representatives, the Commission and EU agencies to identify the best measures to address and avoid shortages of critical medicines.

First announced by the Commission in October 2023, the Alliance will focus on industrial policy and complements the reform of the EU's pharmaceutical legislation as proposed by the Commission. It is a direct response to the call of more than 23 Member States for more strategic autonomy in the sector. Following an open Call for expression of interest, launched on 16 January 2024, the Alliance has now some 250 registered members , including ministries of governmental agencies representing Member States, companies or organisations as industry representatives, and non-governmental organisations.