Minister of Health of Luxembourg, Lydia Mutsch, has continued to advocate for better healthcare for individuals with orphan illnesses by launching a strong appeal for improved access and specialised treatments for patients diagnosed with rare diseases.
Following a signed declaration of intent in September which will see Luxembourg join Belgium and the Netherlands appealing to pharmaceutical companies to lower orphan drug costs, the Minister last week lobbied in Lisbon in front of an audience composed of the 28 Member States, health professionals and patient organisations for patients with rare disease to receive more attention.
Acting under the auspices of the Luxembourg Presidency, Minister Mutsch joined the European Commission at the 'Share. Care. Cure' conference to emphasise the significant potential of European reference networks. From 2016, these networks should allow for a more rapid dissemination of expertise and innovation in the medical field through a group of providers specialised in healthcare across the Member States.
