An MEP has hailed new laws on the cost of medicines as a step towards "a single market in medicines", during a debate on 4 February 2013.

The European Commission says that national decisions on costs should be taken within 30 days of a new generic medicine becoming available, down from the current 180 days.

For other medicines the time limit will be reduced from 180 days to 120.

Centre-right MEP Zofija Mazej Kukovic, a former health minister of Slovakia, said that different countries presently have different periods during which new medicines can be introduced after testing, and different rules on the costs and reimbursements of a particular drug.

She said the new minimum guidelines would end the situation where patients in different countries are in an "unequal situation".

Under the proposals, any delay by national governments in setting the cost of a new drug will be subject to fines calculated on a day-by-day basis.

Irish Labour Party MEP Nessa Childers said that although the provision of health services was a national rather than EU power, knowing the cost at which other countries were paying for a new drug would allow government to "negotiate the best price".

The legal changes will be voted on during the daily voting session from 10.30am on 6 February 2013.

Useful links.

Read Democracy Live's guide to how the plenary sessions work here.

The European Parliament's disclaimer on the use of simultaneous interpretations can be found here.