BRUSSELS and PRAGUE, June 27, 2025 — As the EU adjusts to global geopolitical pressures and renews its emphasis on legislative simplification, Medicines for Europe convened policymakers, industry leaders, and partners for its annual gathering in Brussels.

The conference focused on “Building a Resilient Health Union: Security, Access and Competitiveness”. Key topics on the agenda included the implementation of the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), the development of the Critical Medicines Act, the role of biotechnology and digitalization, and the long-term viability of procurement models and healthcare budgets. Discussions primarily addressed how to bolster Europe’s manufacturing capabilities, ensure access to affordable medicines, and manage the clean and digital transition while maintaining access to medicines for individuals who depend on them daily.

Zentiva’s CEO, Steffen Saltofte, participated in a panel discussion titled “Delivering access to medicines in the context of the Clean Transition and One Health,” where he championed an environmental transition that does not jeopardize medicine access. With backing from local associations, German Progenerika and Czech CAFF, he presented practical insights from Germany and the Czech Republic, two of Zentiva’s key markets.

There is an urgent necessity to Pause – Repair – Relaunch, as the directive’s current implementation is unfeasible for the generics industry.

Zentiva highlighted the following three crucial messages:

• The existing UWWTD implementation risks undermining medicine affordability, supply reliability, and long-term sustainability. The European Commission’s unrealistic assumptions and significantly underestimated cost assessments raise serious concerns about the ongoing availability of essential off-patent medicines across Europe.
• A superior alternative exists – the Swiss model demonstrates how equitable cost-sharing, phased implementation, and cross-sector collaboration can achieve environmental objectives without compromising patient care.
• It is imperative to safeguard the economic viability of medicines produced in Europe. If environmental policies impose disproportionate financial burdens on manufacturers, they risk driving production out of Europe – thereby threatening both supply chain resilience and the EU’s ambition for strategic autonomy in healthcare.

“Sustainability is not solely about the environment. It also concerns the sustainability of care – ensuring access to medicines for all individuals who rely on them daily, regardless of cost pressures. We must identify solutions that achieve environmental sustainability while simultaneously ensuring access to affordable healthcare. Let us remember – health is a right, not a privilege,” Saltofte concluded.

About Zentiva
Zentiva is dedicated to health and wellbeing for all generations. We are a European company that develops, produces, and delivers high-quality, affordable medicines to over 100 million people in more than 30 countries across Europe and beyond. Zentiva has four wholly owned manufacturing facilities and an extensive network of external manufacturing partners to ensure supply security. The company is privately owned, delivering sustainable growth, with an ambitious plan for the coming years.

We are a team of more than 5,000 distinct talents united by our commitment to ensuring the supply of high-quality, affordable medicines to people who depend on them daily. We aim for Zentiva to be an excellent workplace where everyone feels welcomed and appreciated, and can be their authentic selves, contributing to their fullest potential.

Our origins trace back over 500 years to a small pharmacy in Prague that still operates today. We act today for a sustainable tomorrow, so that Zentiva will continue to provide health and wellbeing for all generations for at least another 500 years.

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SOURCE Zentiva