Merz will strengthen the competitiveness of the European pharmaceutical industry
The CDU federal chairman Friedrich Merz aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the European pharmaceutical industry. The pharmaceutical industry in Europe and Germany is important, he said during a visit to the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Dresden. It is an "essential part of our healthcare system", not only for patients but also for the industry as a whole. "Competition in European industry means ensuring supply security, even internally", Merz said.
Due to the Corona pandemic, there has been a shift in opinion. "Suddenly, we have realized that we have few researching and producing pharmaceutical companies left in Europe. Europe has become dependent on China and India." For example, there is only one antibiotics production site in Austria throughout Europe.
Merz also addressed the vaccine skepticism that is widespread in Germany. Children in particular need protection vaccinations. The risk should not be denied. "Every vaccine can have side effects, but no vaccine has much greater side effects", Merz said. He advocated for a campaign by politics and companies. People should get themselves and above all their children vaccinated.
GSK produces vaccines against the flu and hepatitis in its Dresden plant. According to the company's statements, two million vaccine doses are produced there every week. Around 800 employees and trainees work at this location.
Merz underscored the necessity of boosting the competitiveness of the European pharmaceutical industry, particularly in light of the scarcity of researching and producing pharmaceutical companies in Europe, which has led to dependency on China and India. In response to widespread vaccine skepticism in Germany, Merz advocated for a collaborative campaign by politics and companies to encourage vaccinations, emphasizing the minimal side effects of vaccines compared to their benefits.
