The EU member states' health ministers agreed on Friday on the importance of finding the Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible and ensuring its wide availability, the Croatian EU Presidency reported.

At a video conference, the ministers welcomed the European Commission's proposal for launching the new EU4Health programme, which aims at strengthening the health care systems in the EU member states.

“We are aware that the development of a safe and effective vaccine is the best way of suppressing the pandemic caused by the Covid-19, and that rapidly developing the vaccine and ensuring its availability is of the utmost importance,” stated Tomislav Dulibic, state secretary at the Ministry of Health.

In May, the European Commission presented the pandemic recovery plan, including the EU4Health programme for helping the health care system.

A sum of €9.4 billion was allocated for the purpose, a significantly larger amount than the initially proposed €413 million.

Among other things, the funds will be spent on “preparedness and prevention, as well as on the availability of drugs and medical supplies,” said Dublic.