Belgium: EU to 'launch joint procurement' to tackle coronavirus

W/S EU Health Ministers arrive at podiums, Brussels
M/S EU Health Ministers
SOT, Vili Beros, Croatian Health Minister (Croatian): "Doctor Ryan of the World Health Organisation (WHO) presented the statistical data at the global level and he reported on the activities of the WHO and praised the co-operation with China. He also pointed out the need for intense co-operation in Research and Development in order to develop the medical response to coronavirus."
M/S Health Ministers
SOT, Vili Beros, Croatian Health Minister (Croatian): "The Director of ECDC [European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control], Doctor Ammon, confirmed the high degree of preparedness within the EU, and reported on the level of diagnostic capacity in order to continue detecting new cases, and subsequently the implementation of health care measures. She also indicated the importance of information exchange in real time and timely informing of the public based on scientific evidence."
M/S Photographers
SOT, Stella Kyriakides, EU Health Commissioner: "Member states overall have strong health systems and are well prepared to deal with potential cases of COVID-19 virus. We heard today that they are taking all the necessary measures for isolation, for case management and for contact tracing. However, we also stressed that there is a need for continued vigilance by member states, in case the situation as it stands today deteriorates. In the EU, this would mean having adequate hospital and laboratory facilities, detection capabilities and of course availability of protective equipment."
M/S Health Ministers at podium
SOT, Stella Kyriakides, EU Health Commissioner: "We are currently finalising the assessment [of] stock levels, especially regarding personal protective equipment, and today, I informed the ministers that we are indeed ready to launch joint procurement with member states to procure more equipment. One of the issues that [were] raised several times was on the consent of a possible shortage of medicines and I would like to once again emphasise that the European Medicinal Authority has already looked into this. And so far, there have been no shortages reported, but the networks have already been put into place and [the] ad-hoc emergency taskforce for preliminary overview of the situation is looking at it and we are monitoring it through the European Medicine Authority."
M/S Journalists
SOT, Stella Kyriakides, EU Health Commissioner: "Co-ordination and information is key and measures need to be both proportionate and science based, in line with ECDC and WHO recommendations. I think that it is very important that we re-emphasise this. Continued vigilance and preparedness globally mean continuing to support efforts taken to contain the virus and reduce the risk of it spreading further; including stepping up support to China. We will respond to the call of WHO to support countries which may have more fragile health systems in an effort to contain the virus."
M/S End of conference
SCRIPT
EU health ministers have warned that "intense co-operation" must continue in order to tackle the deadly coronavirus at a conference in Brussels on Thursday.
EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said, "member states overall have strong health systems and are well prepared to deal with potential cases of COVID-19 virus," but also said the EU was putting a "local procurement" in place to deal with concerns that there may be medicinal shortages if the situation "deteriorates." Currently there are no shortages in the EU, she confirmed, adding that the EU may need to support "more fragile health systems" like China if the virus is to be contained.
The death toll of the virus, which has been declared by the WHO as a "global health emergency" has overtaken the SARs epidemic of the early 2000s, claiming the lives of 1,370.
Around 60,000 persons have been infected in China alone with more than 350 cases declared in over 25 other countries, including Germany, the UK and the US. Three deaths have been confirmed outside China; in Japan, Hong Kong and the Philippines.