Ensuring the availability of supplies and equipment

Availability of medical equipment

As of 26 May 2021, the new EU rules on medical devices (MDR) enter into application, establishing a modern and more robust regulatory framework to protect public health and patient safety. The new rules started applying after a one-year postponement due to the unprecedented challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, addressing the need for an increased availability of vitally important medical devices across the EU.

Availability of medicines

The Commission has called on EU countries to ensure that Europeans have access to necessary and affordable medicines during the coronavirus outbreak while preserving the integrity of the Single Market. These guidelines ensure the rational supply, transport, allocation and use of vital medicines and prevent any shortages.

Identifying demands and matching supplies of medical equipment

The Commission set up a ‘clearing house for medical equipment (COVID-19)’ to identify available supplies and facilitate the matching with demand in EU countries.

It served as a platform for dialogue and sharing of information with Member States’ representatives on the demand and supply of medical equipment at EU level and on means to overcome shortages and build capacity.

Public procurement of medical and protective equipment

The voluntary Joint Procurement Agreement for medical countermeasures enables the joint purchase of vital medical supplies and equipment. Joint Procurements help Member States to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in line with the EU policies on testing and vaccination.

Since early 2020, up to 36 countries, participated in twelve joint procurement procedures, which resulted in over 200 contracts allowing countries to order essential medical supplies and innovative therapeutics for nearly €13 billion. When conducting joint procurements, the European Commission has a coordinating role, while the EU countries purchase the items.

	ITEMS	AVAILABILITY	VOLUME	BUDGET CEILING
	Gloves and coveralls Contract award notice 2020	April 2020-2021 (gloves) May 2020-2021 (coveralls)	Several million	€97 million
	Eye and respiratory protection Contract award notice 2020 Contract award notice 2021	April 2020-2021	20 million goggles 12 million face shields 37 million FFP2 masks 26 million FFP3 masks 301 million surgical masks	€1.4 billion
	Ventilators Contract award notice 2020	April 2020-2021	110,000 units	€1.4 billion
	Laboratory equipment Contract award notice 2020	May 2020-2021	30 different lots	€192 million
	Medicines used in intensive care units	October 2020 - September 2022*	103 million vials of 19 medicines (analgesics, antibiotics muscle relaxers, anaesthetics, resuscitation, other) NB. Includes dexamethasone under lot 1 (European Medicines Agency endorses use of dexamethasone in COVID-19 patients on oxygen or mechanical ventilation)	€543 million
	Remdesivir (Veklury) Contract award notice 2020	October 2020 - April 2022**	Over 500,000 treatment courses (European Medicines Agency - conditions of use)	€3.4 billion
	Medical equipment for vaccination Contract award notice 2021	December 2020 - March 2022*	1.2 billion syringes 588 million needles 760 million pairs of gloves 307 million aprons 1.18 million vaccine carriers 3.38 million waste containers 98 million disinfectants 5.5 million anaesthetic consumables	€2.27 billion
	Rapid antigen tests Contract award notice 2021	February 2021 - 2022	557 million tests 1,733 reading devices	€2.67 billion
	Monoclonal antibodies	April 2021 - end 2021***	220,000 treatments of VIR-7831 (sotrovimab) 220,000 treatments of bamlanivimab and etesevimab combination 55,000 treatments of Regn-COV2 (combination of casirivimab and imdevimab)	€937 million

* Depending on the contract signature date.

** Two contract renewals. 

*** With a possible contract extension. 

Guidance on using the public procurement framework

Stockpiling and distributing supplies and equipment

The rescEU stockpile is a common European reserve of medical equipment such as:

• ventilators
• personal protective equipment
• reusable masks
• vaccines and therapeutics
• laboratory supplies

The Commission finances 100% of the costs of the stockpiling and will manage the distribution of the equipment to ensure it goes where it is needed most.

Increasing European production capacities

Revised harmonised standards will allow manufacturers to make high quality devices to protect patients, healthcare professionals and citizens in general. The revised standards relate to critical supplies such as

• medical facemasks
• protective clothing
• surgical drapes
• disinfectant and sterilization agent
• personal eye protection
• medical gloves
• respiratory protective devices

The Commission has made guidance available in 3 areas to assist manufacturers in increasing the output of essential medical equipment and material, namely

• the production of personal protective equipment such as masks
• leave-on hand cleaners and hand disinfectants
• 3D printing

Guidance on medical devices

Temporarily lifting customs duties and VAT on imports

The Commission approved requests from all EU countries and the UK to temporarily waive customs duties and VAT on the import of medical devices, and protective equipment, from third countries. The temporary waiver has been extended again until 31 December 2021.

The Commission also published specialised guidance to ease the work of Member State customs authorities, and other relevant stakeholders, when dealing with customs procedures, e.g. minimising formalities on the import of human organs and bone marrow destined for transplant in the EU or various payment facilities for handling customs debt or proving preferential origin of goods.

The Commission also proposed that hospitals and medical practitioners should not have to pay VAT on vaccines and testing kits. Following the green light by Member States, these temporary VAT relief measures will apply until 31 December 2022.

The Commission also proposes to exempt vital goods and services distributed by the EU from VAT in times of crisis. The initiative will maximise the efficiency of EU funds used in the public interest when responding to crises.