Is the EU Ready for the Next Pandemic Five Years After Covid-19?
A Politico Europe podcast episode assesses how much better prepared the EU is for the next health crisis five years after the height of Covid-19. It also covers a mysterious death at a Russian anti-plague institute and US pressure on Europe to pay more for medicines.
The latest episode of Politico Europe's "Brussels Playbook" podcast examines how much better prepared the European Union is for the next health crisis, five years after the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Host Sarah Wheaton is joined by POLITICO health reporter Helen Collis and global health expert Michel Kazatchkine.
A mysterious death in Russia
One topic is the mysterious death of a worker at a Russian anti-plague institute, a facility that deals with dangerous infectious diseases. The participants consider what the case says about international health cooperation and transparency.
Brussels' post-Covid ambitions
The episode also looks at what became of the ambitions Brussels set out after the pandemic. These include HERA, the EU's health-emergency authority, and better coordination of research.
Trump and drug prices
The discussion also covers US President Donald Trump's push to reduce drug prices in the United States by pressing Europe to pay more for medicines.
Innovation and competition
Finally, the conversation turns to how Brussels is trying to compete with the United States and China in biotech and new medicines, and asks whether the EU is focusing on the kind of innovation that patients actually need.
